Federal Jury Convicts Former Pharmacist In Hydrocodone Scheme
SHERMAN, Texas - A 51-year-old former pharmacist has been convicted of drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
James Hemen, also known as James Ohemeng, of Grand Prairie, Texas, was found guilty by a jury on May 6, 2016, of conspiracy to distribute and dispense Hydrocodone. The jury reached a guilty verdict following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant.
According to information presented in court, during 2012 and 2013, Hemen, the former owner and pharmacist-in-charge of Accent Pharmacy, located at 3044 Old Denton Road in Carrollton, Texas, and Accent Pharmacy 2, located at 1441 Coit Road in Plano, Texas, illegally distributed a large quantity of Hydrocodone and other controlled substances with the help of unlicensed employees and business partners posing as licensed pharmacy professionals. Hemen was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 8, 2014 and charged with drug trafficking violations.
Hemen faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy and the Carrollton Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Eastern District of Texas.
