Sex-For-Pills Scheme Lands Delco Pharmacy, Owner $750K Fine

MEDIA, PA — A Delaware County pharmacy and its co-owner accused of operating a sex-for-pills scheme for years agreed to pay a hefty fine and never dispense controlled substances again, federal authorities said.

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said the United States filed a civil lawsuit against Murray-Overhill Pharmacy, Inc., located in Media, and its co-owner pharmacist Martin Brian, alleging a years-long practice of illegal dispensing and distribution of opioid and other controlled substances as part of a sex-for-pills scheme.

At the same time the civil suit was filed, the United States also filed a proposed consent judgment that, subject to the court’s approval, would resolve the lawsuit.

The consent judgment would require Murray-Overhill Pharmacy and Brian to pay $750,000 in civil penalties under the Controlled Substances Act and would permanently prohibit them from dispensing controlled substances or obtaining another controlled substance registration in the future.

In the civil complaint, the United States alleged that the Pharmacy, through its pharmacist and co-owner Brian, exploited its access to controlled substances and engaged in a scheme of pills-for-sex with multiple individuals.

Authorities alleged that police arrived at the back of the pharmacy due to a report of an unconscious male and female in a car, which contained drug paraphernalia.

The complaint alleges that another woman exited the back of the pharmacy followed by Brian, with the woman and Brian initially claiming she came to the pharmacy from Maryland — on a Sunday when the pharmacy was closed — to show pictures of her children.

According to the United States’ allegations, additional investigation revealed that the woman received oxycodone and alprazolam from Brian for sexual acts on several occasions over the prior year, without any legitimate prescription.

The complaint also alleges that Brian and Murray-Overhill engaged in a similar pills-for-sex scheme with another woman.

Brian allegedly gave the woman bottles of oxycodone and alprazolam from Murray-Overhill multiple times a week without a prescription in exchange for sex acts.

The complaint further alleges that additional evidence confirmed the schemes with these individuals, with more than 100,000 missing pills of opioids and other controlled substances.

Murray-Overhill has already surrendered its pharmacy registration to the DEA.

Murray-Overhill and Brian further agreed to resolve their civil liability under terms outlined in the proposed consent judgment, if accepted by the court.

The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office previously filed criminal charges against Brian for the same conduct.

"This case illustrates that the opioid epidemic continues to damage our communities," Romero said. "This Office will never allow pharmacies and pharmacists, who held positions of trust, to take advantage of their access to controlled substances at the expense of those in our communities addicted to controlled substances."