Archive for 2013
FDA Alert: Affirm XL, Inc Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Affirm XL Dietary Supplement Tablet, Lot 1190001 Due to Potential Health Risk
Recall — Firm Press Release FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company. Contact Consumer: 1-800-385-0738 info@affirmxl.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 10, 2013 – Affirm…
[...]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, 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.
[...]Illinois Businessman Indicted for Selling Counterfeit Botox and Juviderm
View larger map Christopher Carstens, an Alton Illinois businessman, has been charged with nine counts in federal court related to his sales of counterfeit Botox and Juviderm through his company, Orthopaedic Soultions, Inc. It is alleged that Carstens distributed approximately 5,879 units of foreign versions of Botox and Juvederm via his sales representatives to doctors…
[...]Justice Department Dismantles Fake Online Pharmacy Conspiracies & Convicts 9
On March 27, the US Department of Justice announced the sentencing of 9 people involved in distinct but interrelated fake online pharmacy conspiracies. The ringleaders were sentenced to 4-5 years apiece, while other members of the broad organizations got less jail time or probation. All told, the defendants forfeited more than $94 million in profits. UPS & FedEx shipping records were used as evidence in this case.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has concluded the successful prosecution of two different fake Internet pharmacy conspiracies. As they describe it, “these convictions were the result of a lengthy investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, San Francisco Field Division’s Financial Investigative Team. The prosecution is part of the Northern District of California United States Attorney’s Office’s Health Care Fraud program and was initiated as an investigation with the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. Substantial assistance was provided by the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. Assistant United States Attorneys Kirstin Ault, Thomas Stevens, and Tracie Brown, with assistance from Denise Oki, Maryam Beros, Rawaty Yim, and Rayneisha Booth, prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.”
Pitcairn Internet Pharmacy
Michael Arnold, founder of Pitcairn Internet Pharmacy was given a 5 year jail term for his role in distributing controlled substances and prescription drugs through a maze of illegal Internet pharmacy websites. From 2003-2007, he earned more than $69 million via websites such as ezdietpills dot net, pillsavings dot com, and doctorrefill dot net. Arnold used accounts in several countries including Canada, Switzerland, and the Netherlands to launder profits from his illegal drug sales. In addition to his jail term, he has been ordered to forfeit the $69 million in profits from his fake online pharmacy business, reports the DOJ.
SafeScripts/PharmacyUSA
Christopher Napoli, the founder of SafeScripts (also known as PharmacyUSA) was sentenced to 4 years in jail and required to forfeit almost $25 million in profits from his illicit online pharmacy business. Napoli ran his fake Internet pharmacies from November 2004 to December 2006. During that time, Safescripts sold more than 13 million doses of controlled substances. Napoli’s Safescripts operation was rather sophisticated, paying affiliates in several foreign countries to market his drugs, and utilizing a call center in the Dominican Republic to handle customer calls, according to the sentencing document.
[...]Links Between Fake Internet & Real Brick & Mortar Pharmacies
John Roth Speaks at the 2012 PSM Interchange
John Roth, Director of the FDA-OCI Speaking at the 2012 Interchange.
[...]UPS Agrees to $40 Million Fine in Fake Online Pharmacy Case
United Parcel Service has agreed to pay a $40 million fine for their failure to stop fake online pharmacies from using their service. They have also agreed to implement safeguards in the shipping systems going forward to prevent drug counterfeiters from using UPS to ship their products.
On March 29, 2013, the US Department of Justice announced a non-prosecution agreement with United Parcel Service (UPS) in which UPS agrees to pay a fine of $40 million to the Federal government, and also implement compliance procedures to ensure they no longer ship illicit and counterfeit drugs for illegal online pharmacies, reports Fox Business.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), “UPS has cooperated fully with the investigation and has already taken steps to ensure that illegal Internet pharmacies can no longer use its services to ship drugs. These voluntary improvements will be strengthened by the compliance program UPS will implement as a condition of this NPA.”
[...]FDA Alert: Medprep Consulting Inc. Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall Of All Lots Of All Compounded Products Due To Potential Mold Contamination
This is a reprint of an FDA Alert Recall — Firm Press Release FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company. Contact Consumer: 732-493-3390 Media: Angelo…
[...]4 Welsh Residents Sentenced in UK Counterfeit Drugs Case
View larger map In the United Kingdom, three men and one woman in southeastern Wales have been sentenced in a counterfeit drugs case involving a fake online pharmacy based in Pakistan. Andrew Luxton was sentenced to one year in jail. Samantha Steed was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for 18 months. Carl Willis…
[...]Billing Insurance Companies for Imported Drugs Is a Crime
Billing Insurance Companies for Imported Drugs is a Crime In November 2012, Tennessee oncologist William Kincaid pled guilty to purchasing cancer drugs from unauthorized distributors who were hawking counterfeit drugs with no active ingredient. Dr. Kincaid deprived his patients of needed cancer treatments and endangered their lives, but–as with Al Capone–the Federal government’s case against him…
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