Dublin Pharmacist Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Hydrocodone

A criminal information charging Jae Seung Lee, age 42, of Dublin, Ohio, with conspiracy to distribute hydrocodone was filed today, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Lee, a pharmacist who practiced in the Dublin area, answered a fax solicitation to fill prescriptions for orders placed over the Internet. Lee then supplied approximately 279,660 tablets of hydrocodone for Internet orders, most of which involved “patients” whose prescribing doctors were outside their state, according to the information.

“Prescription drug abuse is escalating, and today’s actions signify our commitment to fighting it by targeting the sources,” Dettelbach said. “We are committed to closing down pill mills that illegally distribute those drugs.”

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses, and the characteristics of the violations.

The information is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Collyer.

An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.