Jury Convicts Former NJ Pharmacist in Oxycodone Distribution Scheme

Jury convicts ex-pharmacy owner on conspiracy and illegal drug premises charges after two-week federal trial.

A former Mercer County pharmacist has been convicted of conspiring to illegally distribute controlled substances—including large quantities of oxycodone—and of maintaining her Trenton pharmacy as a drug-involved premises, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

Overview and Charges

• Defendant: Florence Ndubizu, 64, of Princeton Junction, New Jersey
• Convictions: One count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense Schedule II controlled substances; one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises
• Venue: U.S. District Court, Trenton, before Judge Zahid N. Quraishi
• Potential Penalties: Up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine (conspiracy charge), plus up to 20 years and a $500,000 fine (maintaining drug-involved premises)

According to the evidence presented at trial and documents filed in the case:

From 2014 to 2017, Ndubizu was co-owner and pharmacist-in-charge at Healthcare Pharmacy in Trenton. 

She and her accomplices filled fraudulent prescriptions, fully aware that the medications would be diverted for illegal use rather than provided for legitimate medical needs.

During those years, millions of oxycodone pills were purchased and dispensed from the single-location pharmacy.

The DEA audit of Healthcare Pharmacy found that 64,000 oxycodone pills were unaccounted for between April 2015 and August 2017, indicating diversion. 

Ndubizu altered records to conceal the pharmacy’s illicit activity, thereby evading state and federal reporting requirements.

Gordian A. Ndubizu, her husband and co-owner of Healthcare Pharmacy, was separately convicted in August 2024 of tax evasion offenses. He was not charged with controlled substance violations.

Ndubizu awaits sentencing, when she faces the possibility of substantial prison time and monetary penalties. The case underscores the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting those who contribute to the illicit opioid supply, especially at a time when prescription drug abuse remains a national concern.