In a decisive action against the illegal drug trade, a Texas duo has been handed down federal prison sentences for their roles in a counterfeit prescription drug distribution operation. Winrose Ndichu, 33, earned an 18-month imprisonment sentence, while Eric Bernard Russell, Jr., 39, received a term of 42 months. Their crimes involved distributing methamphetamine under the guise of Adderall to various U.S. locations, including Western Tennessee, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
Ndichu was found guilty of aiding and abetting the structuring of financial transactions to sidestep reporting requirements. In contrast, Russell was tied to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Kevin Olando Ombisi, 35, a previously sentenced cohort, will serve a 210-month stint for a string of charges including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and sale of counterfeit Adderall. These convictions stem from a sting operation starting in November 2019, where law enforcement officials made undercover purchases from a vendor known ambiguously as "CARDINGMASTER" on the Darknet.
The vendor advertised "100% AUTHENTIC Adderall Brand 30 mg" pills, according to details from the Justice Department's release. However, subsequent laboratory analysis debunked these claims, revealing the drugs contained methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, instead of the active ingredient found in legitimate Adderall. Proceeds from these deceiving transactions were funneled through fake businesses and bank accounts in a sophisticated attempt to launder the money.
Ndichu withdrew over $250,000 in increments of less than $10,000 over a year—a tactic used to evade detection from federal reporting. The intent was to not only conceal the illicit origins of the money but also to actively promote the ongoing unlawful operation. Both Ndichu and Russell now face the consequences of their actions as revealed in federal court proceedings, with no possibility of parole within the federal correctional system.
The successful intervention against this criminal endeavor was the result of a collaborative investigation by various agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration's Nashville Field Division, the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and local law enforcement partners. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks, who received accolades from United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for her role in bringing the offenders to justice. Ritz expressed his gratitude towards the law enforcement teams for their diligent efforts in this case.
