St. Jude's Pharmacy Owner & Wife Indicted On Federal Charges
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in (SAC), Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Robert E. O'Neill, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, announces the return of an indictment charging Cape Coral residents Jorge (51) and his wife, Martha (41). Jorge Otano, the owner of the former St. Jude's Pharmacy in Cape Coral, is charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, a controlled substance, outside the usual course of professional practice and for other than legitimate medical purposes. In addition, Jorge and Martha (vice-president of the former St. Jude's Pharmacy) are both charged with conspiring to evade the reporting requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act, as part of a pattern of illegal activity involving more than $100,000 in a 12-month period. They are also charged with three substantive counts of structuring transactions to evade the reporting requirements.
If convicted of conspiring to distribute a controlled substance, Jorge Otano faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in federal prison. If convicted of conspiring to structure deposits to evade reporting requirements, they each face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Each structuring transaction to evade reporting requirements charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the Otanos that the United States intends to forfeit $750,525.17 that was seized during the course of the investigation, computer equipment used to facilitate the crime, a house in Cape Coral, and two vehicles which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense. In addition, the United States is seeking a money judgment in the amount of $430,000.00, as additional proceeds of the crimes charged in the indictment.
According to the indictment, Jorge and Martha Otano were registered pharmacy technicians and operators of St. Jude's Pharmacy in Cape Coral. From approximately August 2009 until November 15, 2012, Jorge Otano conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute, and distribute oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice and for other than legitimate medical purposes. In addition, Jorge and Martha Otano made cash deposits, including deposits of illegal proceeds, into domestic financial institutions in amounts of $10,000 or less in order to avoid triggering bank reporting requirements. The Otanos allegedly made multiple deposits below the reporting requirement at multiple banks on the same day and at the same branch on successive days. The indictment alleges that they made in excess of $100,000 in structured cash deposits in one year.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the United States Secret Service.
