A federal judge has permanently barred a Tampa-area pharmacist from dispensing opioids and other controlled substances after the Justice Department alleged he knowingly filled fraudulent prescriptions and profited from unlawful opioid distribution.
The order, entered Monday by U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber in the Middle District of Florida, resolves a civil complaint filed in August 2022 against Nathaniel Esalomi, owner and sole pharmacist of Apexx Pharmacy in Hudson, Fla. The pharmacy, which was temporarily shut down shortly after the suit was filed, has been formally dissolved under the terms of the settlement.
According to the complaint, federal prosecutors alleged that Esalomi filled opioid prescriptions he knew were invalid, charged “dramatically inflated prices,” accepted thousands of dollars in cash for the drugs, and even instructed individuals to forge signatures and falsify addresses on required forms. The government also claimed Esalomi dispensed controlled substances for multiple people who were already deceased.
“Medical professionals who knowingly facilitate the abuse of opioids violate their legal obligations,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate. “The Department will pursue justice against anyone who seeks to profit from unlawfully distributing opioids.”
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe of the Middle District of Florida said the misconduct contributed to a crisis that has ravaged the state and the nation. “Our office will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who contributed to this crisis,” he said.
DEA officials emphasized the ongoing toll of opioid abuse. “Approximately 70 percent of all drug overdose deaths in America involve opioids,” said Deanne L. Reuter, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Miami Field Division. “We will remain steadfast in our effort to remove these poisons from our communities.”
Consent Judgment Imposes Permanent Ban
Esalomi agreed to a consent judgment that permanently prohibits him from distributing opioids or any other controlled substances and bars him from managing, owning, or controlling any business that dispenses controlled substances. He must pay $10,000 of a suspended $500,000 civil penalty.
The pharmacist has also pleaded no contest to related state criminal charges.
The government noted that the allegations in its complaint would have required proof by a preponderance of the evidence had the case gone to trial
