Eleventh Circuit Affirms Convictions Of Pharmacy Owner And Manager For Conspiracy To Distribute Drugs Unlawfully

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the convictions of Jeffrey R. Green (51, formerly of Englewood), owner of Gulf Coast Medical Pharmacy in Ft. Myers, and Karen S. Hebble (46, formerly of Englewood), the pharmacy’s office manager, for conspiracy to unlawfully possess with intent to distribute and distribute oxycodone and alprazolam, and for money laundering. Following a January 2015 jury trial, at which the both defendants were found guilty, United States District Judge John Steele sentenced Green and Hebble to seven and five years’ imprisonment, respectively. He also ordered them to forfeit $4,918,603.36.

Green and Hebble appealed to the Eleventh Circuit. That Court has now rejected, in a published opinion, their arguments that the evidence was insufficient for the jury to find them guilty, that Hebble was too minimally involved with their business to be held accountable, and that the district court should have ordered Hebble tried first so that Green (who is now married to Hebble) could testify on her behalf.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, from 2009 through October 6, 2011, Green and Hebble, neither of whom were a licensed pharmacist, conspired with each other, and others, to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute oxycodone and alprazolam at their pharmacy. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the jury’s decision that they had agreed both to distribute controlled substances and to fill prescriptions for controlled substances that had not been issued for legitimate medical purposes.  

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force, which includes the Naples Police Department, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, and other local law enforcement agencies. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yolande G. Viacava and Robert P. Barclift. The appeal was handled by Senior Litigation Counsel Karin B. Hoppmann and Assistant United States Attorney Cherie Krigsman.