07-22-05 -- Lowney, John -- Sentencing -- News Release

Pharmacy Burglar Sentenced To 12 Years In Federal Prison For Possession and Sale of Oxycodone to Hells Angels

CAMDEN - A laborer was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison today for distribution of stolen quantities of Oxycodone, in the forms OxyContin, Percocet and others, to members of the Hell's Angels East Coast chapter, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson also ordered John Lowney, 39, of Cherry Hill, to serve three years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison sentence.

On April 12, 2005, Lowney pleaded guilty to a one-count Information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of oxycodone in the forms of OxyContin, Percocet, Endocet, Roxicet, Roxicodone, Tylox, Percodan, Roxilox, Roxiprin, and Endodan, all Schedule II narcotic drug controlled substances; and quantities of hydocodone in the forms of Vicodin, Vicoprofen, Lortab, and Norco, all Schedule III narcotic drug controlled substances.

At his plea hearing, Lowney admitted that from November 2001 through May 2003, he and his unnamed accomplices acquired the oxycodone and hydrocodone by breaking into pharmacies in New Jersey and stealing those drugs. Lowney admitted that he or his accomplices cut the telephone wires connecting the pharmacies' alarm systems to the alarm companies and entered the pharmacies by forcing open the rear door.

Lowney admitted that on Nov. 11, 2001, he and his accomplices broke into the Eckerd Drugs in Absecon and stole 3,451 oxycodone pills in various forms and approximately 600 hydrocodone pills in various forms. He also admitted the following burglaries:

• •Jan. 22, 2002, Eckerd Drugs, Medford Twp., took 3,879 oxycodone pills and 3,686 hydrocodone pills;
• •Feb. 21, 2002, Eckerd Drugs, Northfield, took 4,171 oxycodone pills;
• •Jan. 22, 2003, Forked River Pharmacy, Lacey Twp., took 6,950 oxycodone pills and 1,750 hydrocodone pills;
• •March 26, 2003, Eckerd Drugs, Sewell, took 5,754 oxycodone pills and 1,150 hydrocodone pills;
• •April 4, 2003, Eckerd Drugs, Marlton, took 1,374 oxycodone pills and 2,126 hydrocodone pills;
• •May 23, 2003, Eckerd Drugs, Medford Twp., took 6,147 oxycodone pills.

Furthermore, Lowney admitted that after each pharmacy burglary he and his accomplices caused the pills to be transported to individuals in Massachusetts for further distribution. In support of the government's position on sentencing factors, Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Stephen Stigall told the court that Lowney stole the pills and had them transported to Massachusetts for the purpose of having the pills further distributed by the Hell's Angels East Coast chapter.

Christie credited Diversion Investigators and Special Agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Pasterchick, in Newark, with investigation of the case.

The Government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Stephen Stigall of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Camden.

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Defense Counsel: Richard Coughlin, Esq. Fed. Pub. Defender's Office