Two Pharmacists Sentenced to Years in Prison for Illegal Distribution of Oxycodone

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, pharmacist Mohamed Hassan was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Ann M. Donnelly to 18 years’ imprisonment.  Also today, co-defendant Anthony Mathis, a street narcotics dealer involved in the scheme, was sentenced by Judge Donnelly to 36 months’ imprisonment.  On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Judge Donnelly sentenced pharmacist co-defendant Yousef Ennab to 30 months’ imprisonment.  As part of their sentences, Mathis and Ennab were ordered to pay forfeiture in the amount of $535,989.12 and $13,472.76, respectively, and Hassan was ordered to pay forfeiture in an amount to be determined at a future date.  Ennab and Hassan were convicted after trial in February 2025 on all counts of a superseding indictment charging them with conspiracies to dispense and distribute oxycodone, as well as distribution and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. Mathis previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA); Naomi Gruchacz, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI New York); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI); and Dr. James V. McDonald, Commissioner, New York State Department of Health, announced the sentences.

“The opioid epidemic has caused incalculable harm in our communities, and this criminal ring fueled the proliferation of pills on the street,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “The corrupt pharmacists who filled illegitimate oxycodone prescriptions to supply drug dealers, acted out of pure greed and complete disregard for the harm they were causing.  The prison sentences meted out, and my Office’s prosecution of the scheme, demonstrates the Office’s and law enforcement’s commitment to hold accountable all the actors for their roles in this scourge.”

Mr. Nocella expressed his thanks to the additional law enforcement partners that assisted with the case, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the New York State Comptroller, the New York Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the New York National Guard.

“Pharmacists swear an oath to protect lives, not endanger them,” stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Tarentino.  “By illegally distributing oxycodone, these individuals betrayed their profession, their communities, and the public’s trust.  The DEA will not distinguish between those who wear a white coat and those who traffic drugs. Anyone who fuels addiction for profit will be held accountable.”  

“Today’s sentences send a clear message that those who exploit their positions of trust to fuel the opioid crisis will be held accountable,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz.  “HHS-OIG will continue working with our law enforcement partners to safeguard federal health care programs and protect the beneficiaries who depend on them.”

“Using their positions as pharmacists to scheme and cheat the system, Ennab and Hassan dispensed oxycodone to their vulnerable clientele with full knowledge of its addictive qualities.  The pair cared more about lining their pockets with dirty money than the safety and well-being of their customers.  Today’s sentencing was made possible with the collaborative efforts of our federal and local partners, and now each will finally see the full consequences of their criminal behavior,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber stated, “The prison sentences imposed this week hold the defendants, including two pharmacists, accountable for a criminal scheme that sent more than 1.6 million pills of highly addictive oxycodone into our City’s streets.  I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and all of our law enforcement partners involved in this investigation for their unwavering commitment to bring to justice those who distribute dangerous drugs in our communities.”

“The illegal distribution of opioids carries the devastating cost of broken families, lives lost and communities left shattered,” stated New York State Health Commissioner McDonald. “When a pharmacist entrusted to care for patients betrays that trust, the damage can be irreparable. The New York State Department of Health ‘s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement will continue to remain vigilant and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to safeguard the public health of New Yorkers by combating illegitimate use of controlled substances in health care. We remain committed to supporting prevention, harm reduction and recovery efforts and ensuring people struggling with substance use have access to quality treatment and a path toward healing.” 

As proven at trial and set forth in court filings, Hassan and Ennab were licensed pharmacists who participated in a scheme to use illegal medical prescriptions to obtain oxycodone for sale on the streets of New York City.  Hassan held ownership stakes in approximately 20 pharmacies, which were located in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, and some of which did business under the names Nile RX, Nile Ridge, Nile City, Sunset Corner, Prospect Care, Downtown RX and Forest Care, among others.  Ennab was the supervising pharmacist at Forest Care, one of Hassan’s pharmacies in Staten Island.

The scheme relied on filling illegally issued prescriptions for 30-day supplies of oxycodone 30 mg that were written out of a Brooklyn medical practice operating as a pill mill, often for patients that the resident doctor at the practice had never examined.  Oxycodone 30 mg pills are high in strength and are usually prescribed to patients facing serious diagnoses, like cancer patients.  In some cases, the prescriptions were for individuals whose identities had been stolen and were not patients of the practice.

The prescriptions were then filled at pharmacies controlled by Hassan, including the pharmacy where Ennab worked.  Hassan and Ennab conspired with other drug dealers to distribute the illegally obtained oxycodone.  One of the drug dealers picked up the oxycodone from the pharmacies in exchange for cash payments to Hassan and Ennab.  Hassan and other pharmacist co-conspirators also billed insurance companies for the pills, even though they had no legitimate medical purpose.  Mathis was a drug dealer who picked up oxycodone from pharmacies in exchange for payment.  Mathis recruited dozens of individuals to serve as nominal patients, in whose name oxycodone prescriptions were issued.  Mathis also stole the identities of some individuals, and those identities were used—without their knowledge or approval—on oxycodone prescriptions that co-defendant Michael Kent picked up.  In total, the scheme resulted in the illegal distribution of more than 1.6 million pills of oxycodone, worth more than $48 million in retail street value.

Seven co-defendants, including Kent, Dr. Somsri Ratanaprasatporn, her receptionist Leticia Smith, and pharmacists Bassam Amin and Omar Elsayed, previously pleaded guilty based on their involvement in the scheme.  Three of these co-defendants are awaiting sentencing.  Kent was previously sentenced to 108 months’ incarceration, and Raymond Walker, another street dealer, was previously sentenced to 84 months’ incarceration.

Assistant United States  Attorneys Laura Zuckerwise, Victor Zapana and Gilbert M. Rein are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from former Paralegal Specialists Rachel Friedman and Nadya Osman. Assistant United States Attorney Claire Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handing forfeiture matters.  

The Defendants:

YOUSEF ENNAB
Age:  28
Brooklyn, New York

MOHAMED HASSAN
Age:  35
Brooklyn, New York

ANTHONY MATHIS
Age:  58
New Windsor, New York

Co-Defendants Who Pleaded Guilty and Are Awaiting Sentencing:

LETICIA SMITH
Age:  57
Brooklyn, New York

BASSAM AMIN
Age: 62
Brooklyn, New York

OMAR ELSAYED
Age:  31
Hackensack, New Jersey

Co-Defendants Who Were Previously Sentenced:

MICHAEL KENT
Age:  52
Brooklyn, New York

DR. SOMSRI RATANAPRASATPORN
Age:  78
Staten Island, New York

RAYMOND WALKER
Age:  73
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-464 (S-1) (AMD)