Philadelphia Man Charged In Pharmacy Burglaries

PHILADELPHIA - Michael Katzin, 33, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged by superseding indictment with two pharmacy robberies, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  Katzin is charged with conspiracy to commit pharmacy burglary, conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, pharmacy burglary, and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.

According to the indictment, Katzin conspired with Harry Katzin and Mark Katzin, both charged elsewhere, and others, to enter Rite Aid pharmacies, with intent to steal materials and compounds containing any quantity of a controlled substance.  The defendants allegedly robbed the Rite Aid pharmacy at 1852 Brownsville Rd, in Feasterville-Trevose, on November 18, 2010, and the Rite Aid pharmacy at 807 S. 4^th Street, in Hamburg, on December 16, 2010, to steal amphetamine salts, dextroamphetamine, fentanyl, methylphenidate, dexmethylphenidate, morphine sulfate, meperidine, oxymorphone, tapentadol, codeine sulfate, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, hydrocodone APAP, hydrocodone chlorpheniram, oxycodone, and oxycodone APAP, each a Schedule II controlled substance.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison, a fine of up to $2.5 million, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $400 special assessment.

The case was investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Southampton Township Police Department, and the Hamburg Borough Police Department, and has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.