Suffolk County, NY – Usharani Alexander, 64, of Bellerose, has been sentenced to six years in prison, followed by two years of post-release supervision, for stealing thousands of oxycodone pills from her former employer, a pharmaceutical company based in Suffolk County. The sentencing was announced today by Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
In 2022, Alexander, who was employed as an operator in the packaging department of a Brookhaven pharmaceutical company, used her key card to access the packaging area on four separate dates during the summer when she was not scheduled to work. Surveillance footage showed her entering the area empty-handed, taking thousands of oxycodone pills, and moving to an area not covered by cameras. She was then seen exiting with a weighted bag. An internal audit uncovered a significant discrepancy between the number of oxycodone pills manufactured and those packaged for distribution, leading to the discovery of the theft.
“The pills that this defendant took from her employer are highly addictive, and when not used as prescribed, they can kill, as evidenced by the current opioid epidemic,” said Tierney.
On February 7, 2024, Alexander pleaded guilty to four counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski. On May 30, 2024, Justice Pilewski sentenced her to six years in prison, followed by two years of post-release supervision.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lauren Golombek of the Narcotics Bureau. The investigation was led by Detective Daniel Hogan from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Section and members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Photo by Alex Green
