United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEWARK, N.J. - - Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division and Paul J. Fishman, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey announced a Belleville, New Jersey, woman today admitted leading a conspiracy to illegally obtain and distribute oxycodone in New Jersey.

Victoria Horvath, 43, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an indictment charging her with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

Using confidential sources, physical surveillance, and recorded text messages and telephone calls, investigators with the Drug Enforcement (DEA) discovered that members and suppliers of a drug trafficking organization secured prescriptions for oxycodone and other controlled substances from various doctors in New Jersey, filled them at pharmacies in Belleville and elsewhere, and sold the drugs for a profit. The investigation identified Victoria Horvath as a senior member of the drug trafficking organization.

Horvath admitted that, between February 5, 2014 and August 13, 2014, she personally went to various doctors’ offices and obtained prescriptions for pills containing oxycodone, had the prescriptions filled by various pharmacies, and sold the pills to members of the conspiracy and others. Horvath also drove other conspirators to specific doctors to obtain oxycodone prescriptions, assisted them in getting the prescriptions filled, and helped them sell the pills.

Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance - meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions, and abuse of the drug may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

The charge to which Horvath pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2016.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited the DEA’s New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.