Zion Oluwademilade Adeduwon, a 24-year-old from Bowie, Maryland, was sentenced on Mar. 10 to 42 months in federal prison and ordered to forfeit $100,000 after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges related to the illegal distribution of controlled substances. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court in Roanoke.
Adeduwon is the first defendant sentenced among several co-conspirators charged with working alongside Dr. Rotimi Iluyomade, an Annandale-based doctor convicted of distributing large quantities of oxycodone pills and prescription cough syrups containing hydrocodone-chlorpheniramine and promethazine-codeine. These substances are commonly known as “Tussionex” and “lean.”
Court documents show that between at least 2023 and 2024, Iluyomade and his associates conspired to distribute these drugs by sending fraudulent prescriptions to pharmacies across multiple states, including Virginia, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Missouri, Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, Georgia, Wisconsin, Texas, and West Virginia. At least 70 prescriptions were filled at pharmacies within the Western District of Virginia.
The scheme involved individuals visiting Iluyomade’s clinic with lists of fake patients using false names and addresses. Prescriptions were then sent out under these identities to various pharmacies nationwide. Adeduwon regularly visited the clinic to obtain fraudulent prescriptions for himself and others—paying about $300 per prescription—and directed that they be written under fake patient information for fulfillment in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
Other individuals charged in connection with this conspiracy are awaiting trial or sentencing. The investigation is being conducted by several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Virginia State Police, Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Salisbury Police Department in Maryland, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, Nebraska State Police, HHS-OIG (Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case. Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said he made the announcement along with Christopher C. Goumenis of the DEA Washington Division and Darren B. Cox from the FBI Washington Field Office.
