2 Rhode Island Men Plead Guilty in International Fake Internet Pharmacy Scheme

Rhode Island pair pleaded guilty to being part of an international criminal enterprise based in Israel that imported steroids and misbranded pharmaceuticals into the United States for sale via the Internet. The drugs were repackaged and shipped from their facility in Rhode Island.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) reported on March 13th that two Rhode Island men, Edmond Paolucci of Coventry, and Patrick Cunningham of Cranston have pleaded guilty to receiving, repackaging and shipping steroids and misbranded prescription drugs to Internet customers who placed orders with the Israel-based Internet pharmacy.

Rhode Island pair pleaded guilty to being part of an international criminal enterprise based in Israel that imported steroids and misbranded pharmaceuticals into the United States for sale via the Internet. The drugs were repackaged and shipped from their facility in Rhode Island.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) reported on March 13th that two Rhode Island men, Edmond Paolucci, and Patrick Cunningham have pleaded guilty to receiving, repackaging and shipping steroids and misbranded prescription drugs to Internet customers who placed orders with the Israel-based Internet pharmacy.

Investigations by the Rhode Island FDA Task Force revealed that starting as early as November 2009 and continuing until November 2011, Edmond Paolucci worked for an international drug distribution ring based in Israel according to the DOJ.

This global drug gang also produced custom underground branded drugsthat bore names such as Sciroxx and Xsorox, which they then sold to Internet customers in the United States and in other countries.

Misbranded prescription drugs, bulk pills, and large jugs of injectable drugs were shipped to PO boxes in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island from locations as diverse as Israel, Turkey, and Bulgaria, reports the DOJ. Paolucci and his subordinates, including his co-defendant Patrick Cunningham, then repackaged the bulk drugs into retail sale-sized packaging in their underground laboratory. Cunningham and Paolucci pled guilty to re-packaging the drugs into pill-packets and drug vials, then shipping them off to web customers, reports WPRI.com.

According the DOJ, the websites offering the misbranded drugs and steroids were operated by Paolucci and co-conspirators in Israel. Once sales were made, Paolucci would send profits to his Israeli partners. The DOJ press release continues, “Records obtained from money transfer service companies showed that from February 2009 to September 2011 Mr. Paolucci transferred in excess of $76,000 in proceeds from steroid and prescription drug sales to individuals in Israel.”

Patrick Cunningham, who pleaded guilty to distribution of misbranded drugs and steroids, is scheduled for sentencing on May 28th, 2013. Edmond Paolucci, who faces similar drug charges and additionally pled guilty to money laundering charges, is scheduled for sentencing on April 9, 2013, reports the DOJ.

By S. Imber