SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY – Usharani Alexander, a 64-year-old resident of Bellerose, was sentenced to six years in prison with an additional two years of post-release supervision for stealing thousands of oxycodone pills from her employer, a Suffolk County-based pharmaceutical company. The sentencing was announced today by District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.
Alexander was employed as an operator in the packaging department of a pharmaceutical company located in Brookhaven. In summer 2022, surveillance footage showed her using her key card to access the packaging area during off-hours on four separate occasions. Video evidence captured her entering empty-handed and exiting with a weighted bag, leading to an internal audit that revealed a significant discrepancy in the oxycodone inventory.
On February 7, 2024, Alexander pleaded guilty to four counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Class B felonies, in front of Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski.
During her plea, Alexander admitted to the theft of the pills, which are known for their high potential for addiction and their role in the opioid epidemic.
The case was prosecuted by Suffolk County authorities, emphasizing the dangers of illicit drug distribution and misuse. Alexander was represented by attorneys Steven Gaitman, Esq., and Jason Russo, Esq. The district attorney used this case to highlight the risks associated with buying prescription medications from illegal sources.
