ALLEGHENY COUNTY Pharmacist pleads guilty to illegally distributing drugs

PITTSBURGH -- Daniel C. Gebbie, doing business as Crown Drug Inc. of New Castle, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to illegally distribute prescription narcotics and other controlled substances, transmitting a threatening communication and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Gebbia, 38, of Isabelle Avenue, agreed as part of his guilty plea to forfeit $787,000 in drug proceeds, the business premises of Crown Drug Inc., the domain name Crowndrug.bigstep.com and five cars including two Dodge Vipers. U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said that in connection with the guilty plea, the court advised that Gebbia, a licensed pharmacist, owned and operated an Internet pharmacy and sold prescription narcotics and other controlled substances to people over the Internet without legitimate doctor's prescriptions. Buchanan said he unlawfully distributed 1,064,400 dosage units of Hydrocodone and 409,820 dosage units of Diazapam, Clonazepam, Alphrazolam and Phentermine between Jan. 8, 2001, and June 30, 2002. Authorities said that on May 1, 2002, Gebbia used the Internet to transmit a threatening communication to a customer. He will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 20. He remains in the Allegheny County Jail.