Kentucky Pharmacist and Wife Sentenced to Federal Prison Terms

The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced that a Kentucky pharmacist and his wife were sentenced to federal prison for, among other things, conspiracy to commit theft of medical products, conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, and health care fraud.

Just the Facts

According to the DEA, between May 2, 2020, and January 17, 2023, the defendants—pharmacist Joseph Huff, 46, and his wife Jennifer Huff, also 46—consipired to divert oxycodone and hydrocodone from the pharmacy. Jennifer Huff would then sell or trade the diverted medications for illicit substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Jennifer Huff had developed an opioid use disorder.

The couple was also charged with submitting fraudulent claims to Kentucky Medicaid and other health care benefit programs for prescriptions that were never ordered by a licensed health care practitioner. In some cases, Joseph Huff billed insurance for medications which were dispensed to Jennifer Huff without a prescription. He was also accused of fraudulently billing various insurance companies for brand-name Adderall while dispensing generic Adderall.

On December 29, 2022, Joseph Huff reported an alleged armed robbery to the DEA, which he claimed resulted in the loss of narcotics. This robbery never occurred.

Finally, Joseph Huff used another health care professional’s name and National Provider Identifier (NPI) number to issue prescriptions without the other person’s knowledge or consent.

Plea and Sentencing

Both Joseph and Jennifer Huff pleaded guilty. Joseph Huff pleaded guilty to 12 counts of health care fraud and 1 count each of conspiracy to commit theft of medical products, conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, aggravated identity theft, and making a false statement. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17 518.

Jennifer Huff pleaded guilty to 2 counts of health care fraud and 1 count each of conspiracy to commit theft of medical products and conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. She was sentenced to 2 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5730.

The Takeaway

According to court records, Jennifer Huff developed an opioid use disorder following the birth of her youngest child and had a family history of substance use. Her husband, according to his statement at sentencing, didn’t know how to remedy the situation and was trying to preserve his marriage.

People who are facing substance use disorders can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA) helpline at 1-800-662-4357. Professional Assistance Programs for pharmacists are available in most states to support professionals managing substance use challenges.

Reference

Franklin, Kentucky pharmacist and spouse sentenced to federal prison. Press release. United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Published May 6, 2025. Accessed June 3, 2025. https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2025/05/06/franklin-kentucky-pharmacist-and-spouse-sentenced-federal-prison