Pharmacist sentenced for illegal distribution of opioids and other drugs

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Titusville pharmacist has been sentenced for distributing opioids and benzodiazepines without a prescription, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO).

Basil Samir Itani, 47, of Titusville, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for distributing and dispensing controlled substances, said the USAO.

The court also ordered Itani to pay a $50,000 fine. Itani pleaded guilty on September 27, 2023.

According to court documents, Itani sold pharmaceutical-controlled substances to a confidential source on nine different occasions between January 5 and May 24, 2023. The confidential source purchased the controlled substances from Itani for cash and without a prescription after hours at Itani’s pharmacy.

The controlled substances Itani sold included over 3,500 units of oxycodone, over 1,300 units of methadone, nearly 400 units of alprazolam, 200 units of morphine, and a small quantity of methylphenidate—all for which he received thousands of dollars in cash.

Itani distributed and dispensed these controlled substances in an unauthorized manner by acting outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, said the USAO.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Titusville Police Department, and the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman prosecuted it.