Pharmacist gets 10 years for illegal drug distribution

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ) – A 62-year-old West Virginia pharmacist is sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for illegally dispensing and distributing oxycodone and oxymorphone in Eastern Kentucky.

U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell sentenced Jackson Noel, a pharmacist operating Buffalo Drug in Buffalo, West Virginia.

Prosecutors said evidence established that as part of the conspiracy, Noel unlawfully dispensed oxycodone and oxymorphone pills from the pharmacy to out-of-state customers, including customers from Kentucky. Noel dispensed the pills on a cash-only basis.

According to prosecutors, Noel ran his operation from June 2015 through December 2016 in Pike County, the Eastern District of Kentucky, and elsewhere.

Noel pleaded guilty in September 2019.

Noel will be required to pay $100,000 in community restitution. Under federal law, Noel must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jeffrey T. Scott , Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Daniel Cameron, Attorney General of Kentucky; and Rodney Brewer, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police jointly announced the jury’s verdict.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, the Putnam County, West Virginia, Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dotson.