Pharmacist Sentenced For Giving Painkillers To Addicts: USAO

A Burlington County pharmacist has been sentenced to two years, three months in prison after he admitted to his role in a long-running scheme to illegally distribute large quantities of oxycodone and other drugs, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on Tuesday.

David Goldfield, 60, of Medford Lakes, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to illegally distribute and dispense oxycodone and other Schedule II controlled substances, and multiple substantive counts of illegal distribution and dispensing of oxycodone. Goldfield is also subject to three years supervised release and was fined $4,900.

Goldfield and 46-year-old Michael Ludwikowski, of Medford, were previously charged in a 16-count indictment with conspiracy to illegally distribute and dispense oxycodone and other Schedule II controlled substances, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and multiple substantive counts of illegal distribution.

Ludwikowski was also charged with using his cellphone in furtherance of the conspiracy. Goldfield worked for Ludwikowski at Olde Medford Pharmacy and Medford Family Pharmacy, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.

Ludwikowski was previously convicted of six counts in an indictment charging him with illegally distributing and dispensing oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Last week, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Goldfield admitted that from January of 2010 through August of 2013, they knowingly distributed and dispensed oxycodone and other controlled substances to people, including addicts, who presented phony prescriptions.

Goldfield admitted, based upon his training and experience, as well as the "red flags" he observed, it was obvious that many of the oxycodone prescriptions that Goldfield and Ludwikowski filled were fraudulent.
These red flags included prescriptions for oxycodone that appeared to have been "washed" or "bleached."

Authorities had alleged that this was done through a chemical process that removed the original writing for a non-narcotic substance. The customers then rewrote the prescriptions for their drug of choice, including oxycodone.

Other red flags included customers who were believed to be drug addicts, or believed to be selling or abusing the oxycodone; customers seeking oxycodone with residential addresses far from the Medford area, including for example, Camden; the same customer 2 presenting oxycodone prescriptions in numerous different names, including the names of both men and women; and customers presenting oxycodone prescriptions for a 30-day supply multiple times a week.

However, Goldfield said that even when he had suspicions about the legitimacy of particular prescriptions, Ludwikowski told him to fill them anyway. Goldfield also admitted that he and Ludwikowski put bottles of oxycodone in a pull-out drawer as opposed to a locked safe so that employees had easy access to the drug.

Eventually, Ludwikowski became concerned that the high number of oxycodone prescriptions that were being filled would draw the attention of law enforcement. As a result, they began to turn away customers who were bringing in fraudulent prescriptions by telling them that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had reduced their supply of oxycodone.

Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI's Newark Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley W. Cohen; the Drug Enforcement Administration's Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Valerie A. Nickerson; the Medford Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard J. Meder; the Moorestown Police Department under the direction of Chief Lee R. Lieber; the Florence Police Department under the direction of Chief John Bunce; and the Lumberton Police Department under the direction of Chief Tony Diloreto, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.

Patch file photo