Essex County, New Jersey, Woman Admits Leadership Role In Oxycodone Distribution Ring

NEWARK, N.J. – A Belleville, New Jersey, woman today admitted leading a conspiracy to illegally obtain and distribute oxycodone in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Victoria Horvath, 43, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an indictment charging her with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Using confidential sources, physical surveillance, and recorded text messages and telephone calls, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) discovered that members and suppliers of a drug trafficking organization secured prescriptions for oxycodone and other controlled substances from various doctors in New Jersey, filled them at pharmacies in Belleville and elsewhere, and sold the drugs for a profit. The investigation identified Victoria Horvath as a senior member of the drug trafficking organization.

Horvath admitted that, between Feb. 5, 2014 and Aug. 13, 2014, she personally went to various doctors’ offices and obtained prescriptions for pills containing oxycodone, had the prescriptions filled by various pharmacies, and sold the pills to members of the conspiracy and others. Horvath also drove other conspirators to specific doctors to obtain oxycodone prescriptions, assisted them in getting the prescriptions filled, and helped them sell the pills. 

For example, Horvath admitted that she, while working with multiple conspirators, sold 119 oxycodone pills to an undercover law enforcement officer in February 2014 in exchange for $2,020. Horvath also admitted to being an organizer and manager of the conspiracy.

Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance – meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions, and abuse of the drug may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

The charge to which Horvath pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2016.

Of the individuals originally charged with Horvath, Daniel Horvath, 27, Monica Horvath, 22, Johnny Horvath, 46, Tony Marco, 47, and Steven Horvath, 45, all of Rutherford, New Jersey, and Justin Farraj, 24, of Newark, New Jersey have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Brian Perez, 23, was sentenced to a term of 40 months in prison in September 2014. Luis Rivera, 25, was sentenced to 54 months in prison in August 2015. Charges were dismissed against Belleville pharmacist Vincent Cozzarelli after his death in April 2014. The indictment remains pending against six other conspirators.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited the DEA’s New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara F. Merin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.

Defense counsel: Frank P. Arleo Esq., West Orange, New Jersey