Former Monongahela pharmacist gets probation in drug-smuggling case
A former Monongahela pharmacist was sentenced Wednesday to three years of probation for illegally purchasing prescription drugs from a supplier in Canada.
As part of the sentence U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon handed down, Jeffrey A. Markovitz of Clairton was fined $15,000 and ordered to forfeit $650,000. The probation includes a six-month term of home confinement.
Markovitz, the former owner of Dierken’s Pharmacy on East Main Street, pleaded guilty in 2013 to conspiracy to smuggle “unapproved/misbranded prescription drugs” and conspiracy to launder money.
Prosecutors charged Markovitz the year before, saying he had obtained the drugs from Canada between January 2006 and October 2007. On two occasions, he wired money to Canada to complete the purchases, each of which cost $27,947.
Bryan R. Polomoscanik of Greensburg, who previously worked at Dierken’s and later purchased the business, was charged in 2013 and later pleaded guilty to the same charges as Markovitz.
Court records show his sentencing is pending.