Man Admits Involvement in Stealing Drugs from Englishtown Pharmacy to Sell

A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court to his involvement in a plot to burglarize the Union Hill-Supremo Pharmacy in Englishtown, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced Wednesday.

James Zarbailov, 22, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. The pharmacy, located within Marlboro Township, was burglarized shortly before 4 a.m. on June 17, 2012 by Zarbailov and fellow conspirators.

According to court documents, they filled 17 garbage bags and two cardboard boxes with merchandise from the pharmacy, including approximately 1,988 dosage units of methylphenidate, 500 dosage units of hydromorphone, 300 dosage units of Opana (a trade name for oxymorphone), and 3,800 dosage units of oxycodone. All of these drugs are categorized as Schedule II controlled substances. The amount of merchandise stolen is valued at approximately $350,000, court documents revealed.

On Wednesday, Zarbailov admitted to stealing the drugs with the knowledge that they would be sold for profit.

The conspiracy to distribute oxycodone charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Zarbailov’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22, 2013.