South Carolina Pharmacist Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Opioid Distribution

A South Carolina pharmacist who had been working as a staff pharmacist for a Gastonia, North Carolina pharmacy was recently sentenced to prison time for his role in an illegal opioid distribution scheme.

Just the Facts

The 36-year-old pharmacist, Cole Dixon Moore, worked as a staff pharmacist at a Prescription Plus pharmacy in Gastonia, North Carolina. Local law enforcement began an investigation into the pharmacist after receiving information that he was selling large amounts of the tranquilizer alprazolam as well as the opioid oxycodone to an individual who did not have a prescription for the medications. The individual subsequently distributed the drugs illegally.

The investigation revealed that Moore was not only aware that the customer was illegally reselling the pills on the street but also advised the individual on appropriate street pricing. Investigators later determined that Moore was getting a cut of the customer’s sales. The customer would pay a portion of the cost of the pills to Moore upfront and then pay the balance once the pills were sold.

After being questioned, Moore admitted to diverting oxycodone and alprazolam from the pharmacy’s stock supply and illegally selling them to the customer. Investigators were able to recover over 1500 oxycodone and alprazolam pills that Moore had sold to the customer without a prescription. Over the course of just a few months, Moore made over $20 000 through these illicit transactions.

Pharmacist’s Sentence

After being found guilty of illegal distribution of controlled substances, Moore was sentenced by United States District Judge David C. Norton to 2 years in prison. In addition, the judge ordered a period of supervised release following the prison sentence and Moore forfeited $20 000 in profits.

But What About the Pharmacy?

The pharmacy—Prescription Plus—agreed to pay over $200 000 to resolve allegations that it had violated requirements of the Controlled Substances Act. Specifically, the pharmacy was alleged to have failed to monitor its staff pharmacist and neglected to maintain proper records regarding receipt and distribution of controlled substances. The government alleged that these failures enabled the pharmacist to illegally distribute the controlled substances.

The Takeaway

While Moore has been held criminally responsible, the moral here is that the pharmacy itself was not immune from prosecution based on the action of its pharmacist. This is why it is essential to monitor employees and understand that their actions could cause legal ramifications for the entire pharmacy.

Reference

Gastonia pharmacist sentenced to prison for illegal distribution of oxycodone. Press release. US Attorney’s Office, Western District of North Carolina. Published on July 9, 2025. Accessed August 28, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/gastonia-pharmacist-sentenced-prison-illegal-distribution-oxycodone