New Jersey Residents Arrested for Fake Drug Manufacturing in Basement

The Food and Drug Administration announced the unsealing of an indictment on March 25, 2011, after the arrest of two Americans charged with manufacturing and selling fake medication in New Jersey.

Brian Parker, 27, and Michelle Pfeiffer, 24, of Brielle and Toms River, NJ, respectively, were charged with conspiracy to misbrand drugs, impeding the lawful functioning of the FDA, fraud related to the misbranding of drugs and failure to register a drug manufacturing facility, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

The indictment alleges that, although defendant Parker advertised brand name prescription drugs, he instead provided imitations of those drugs that he manufactured in the basement of his home, in an unlicensed facility. Parker allegedly accepted orders via email and then manufactured the drugs in their residence by converting bulk active and inactive ingredients into capsules or tables, creating false labels for the misbranded drugs, and then shipping them throughout the United States.

If convicted the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of 42 years in prison, a $3.75 million fine, three years supervised release, and a $1500 special assessment. The case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joan E. Burnes.

By S. Imber