United States v. WeCare Pharmacy, et al. The three-count complaint alleges that Vivint violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act by: (1) failing to establish an identity theft prevention program; (2) obtaining consumers credit reports without a permissible purpose; and (3) unfairly selling false debts to debt collectors. Along with pleading guilty, the company agreed to pay a criminal fine of $30 million and forfeit an additional $20 million. Calif.). The indictment charges Palacio with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Peruvian Man Sentenced to 90 Months Imprisonment for Overseeing Call Centers that Threatened and Defrauded American Consumers, United States v. Francesco Guerra Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the failure to follow cGMP renders drugs manufactured under such conditions adulterated. The defendants violations included placing over 99 million calls to phone numbers on the DNC Registry. Long charged the accounts of more than 100,000 prior customers of these merchants who had not agreed to any new charges by Longs company. On March 9, 2016, Gareth David Long, a British citizen residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, was charged in a 39-count indictment in the District of Nevada. SARMs are synthetic chemicals designed to mimic the effects of testosterone and other anabolic steroids. Cal.). In reality, these companies were telemarketing operations that did very little to help homeowners after they paid upfront fees ranging from $3,500 to $5,500. Civil means a legal dispute where court action is being requested to resolve a legal matter involving Victims were instructed to send small processing fees typically $20 or $25 to claim the prizes. On November 4, the United States filed an injunction action against Scilabs and Edalat seeking this relief. Reyes then resold these vape cartridges for profit to a vape shop located in Dallas. The products had not been approved by Food and Drug AdminIstration. Docket Number: 3:19-CV-1055 (N.D. The group sought public access to the supply of hydroxychloroquine maintained in the Strategic National Stockpile, and alleged that the EUA violated the APA, the First Amendment, and the Fifth Amendment supposedly by curtailing physicians ability to prescribe hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19. The complaint alleged that, over a period of several years, the defendants dispensed highly addictive and highly abused prescription opioids while ignoring red flags that is, obvious indications of drug diversion and drug-seeking behavior. The orders enjoin the defendants from distributing or dispensing any controlled substances defined as opiates and opioids under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), and from altering, deleting, destroying, mutilating, or transferring any records related to their controlled substance prescriptions or related treatment. In conjunction with the filing of the complaint, the defendants agreed to settle the litigation and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction that prohibits them from committing violations of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Fla.). Extradited Defendant Pleads Guilty to Odometer Fraud SchemeUnited States v. Shmuel Gali Court Permanently Enjoins Mississippi Compounding Pharmacy and Two Individuals from Manufacturing and Distributing Adulterated Drugs United States v. Delta Pharma, Inc., et al. On June 12, 2020, Judge Ronnie Abrams sentenced Paul Calder Leroux to 25 years imprisonment in connection with various criminal activities, which included operating a long-running Internet pharmacy operation known as RX Limited. Edward Morris Ned Weaver, who was Vendstars president and CEO from 2004-2010, was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Lindo was also ordered to pay $292,900 in restitution. Docket Number: 5:12-CR-0141 (N.D. Ga.). Bearden, the former compliance director of Pharmakon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Pharmakon), of Noblesville, Indiana, pleaded guilty in November 2017 to conspiracy and nine counts of adulterating drugs. Four Individuals Charged in Clinical Trial Fraud Scheme, United States v. Bencosme, et al. The complaint also alleged that PharMedium distributed unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs by failing to comply with requirements for drugs compounded in a registered outsourcing facility. 18-cr-20506 (S.D. Docket Number: 1:21-cr-00006-RM (D. Colo.). Fla.). 2:21-cr-20 (D. Nev.). In January 2014, Tahir Saeed also entered guilty pleas to several counts of the indictment, and was sentenced in October 2016 to time served. In a July 2017 complaint, the government alleged that the defendants promoted and sold misbranded sexual enhancement products that contained the undisclosed ingredient sildenafil, which is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Viagra. ); 2:14-CV-1156 (D.N.J. Dailey was the owner and operator of Nomad Botanicals, an online business that sold kratom to consumers throughout the United States. The Court found that given the egregiousness, seriousness, and willfulness of defendants past violations, coupled with their dubious promises of reform, a permanent injunction is necessary to prevent a substantial likelihood that defendants will violate the Act in the future. Blue Bell Creameries Pleads Guilty in Ice Cream Listeria Contamination Case, United States v. Blue Bell Creameries ); 2:12-CV-2264 (D.N.J. 3 minutes ago ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Three former womens basketball players at Eastern New Mexico University have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit claiming their coach coerced them to undergo treatments that amounted to sexual assault by her volunteer trainer husband. );2:16-CV-12655 (E.D. PACER allows anyone with an The defendants made misrepresentations about profits, operating their own vending routes, locations, and ongoing customer support to induce the victims to buy what was advertised as a complete business package, but turned out to be essentially worthless. Lledo is the third defendant to plead guilty in connection with the scheme. Resslers sentencing is currently scheduled for June 12, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sam Haddon in Helena, Montana. Second Circuit Affirms Conviction and Sentence of Business Opportunity FraudsterUnited States v. Edward Morris "Ned" Weaver (Vendstar) Press Release According to the complaint, victims who received these solicitations sent payments through the U.S. and international mail systems to defendants Trends Service in Kommunikatie, B.V. (Trends), and Kommunikatie Service Buitenland, B.V. (KSB), both owned and operated by defendant Erik Dekker. Sentencing for Geissler, Doyle, Patel, and S.K. Dominic Smith (no relation to Shashana Smith) was sentenced in October 2015 to 27 months in prison and one year of supervised release. Things You Should Know About The ANSWER is the formal Blue Bell Creameries Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay $19.35 Million for Ice Cream Listeria Contamination; Former Company President Charged, United States v. Blue Bell Creameries; United States v. KrusePress release In particular, the court found that because hydroxychloroquine remains an FDA-approved and commercially available drug, physicians are free to prescribe it, and any objections by state medical boards to the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 are not traceable to FDA or HHS. The complaint further alleges that Facebook violated the FTC Act by deceiving users about their use of this and additional sensitive information. Medical Device Maker Pleads Guilty to Misbranding and Agrees to Pay $36 Million to Resolve Criminal Liability and False Claims Act AllegationsUnited States v. Biocompatibles, Inc.Press ReleaseDocket Number: 1:16-MJ-00710 (D.D.C.). The complaint alleged that the defendants continued to make such claims in violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act despite receiving a March 6 joint warning letter from the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission. The charge against Gore carries a statutory maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. United States v. Luna, et al. The Court also imposed strong injunctive relief against Dish to prevent future violations. Lovisa also pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with a related scheme to defraud the Federal Trade Commission, which previously sued him regarding an earlier prize-promotion mailing business. Laboratories, a California dietary supplement manufacturer, pleaded guilty on February 25 to conspiracy to introduce misbranded food into interstate commerce and to the introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce. On September 25, 2015, the district court entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Sunset Natural Products Inc., and the firms co-owners, Dr. Teresa Martinez (a.k.a Dr. Teresa Martinez-Arroyo) and Elsy Cruz, stopping them from violating the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by manufacturing and distributing adulterated dietary supplements. South Dakota Man Pleads Guilty in QLasers Medical Device ScamUnited States v. Ronald D. Weir, Jr. Press Release On February 12, 2020, Angel Armando Adrianzen pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography. Victims received telephone calls informing them that they had won more than one million dollars in a lottery, but that they needed to pay advance fees to claim their winnings. Long obtained the account information of his victims through purchasing detailed spreadsheets containing personal and financial information; and, account information that he possessed from his prior work as a payment processor for merchants and telemarketers. The PACER Service Center can assist you at (800) 676-6856 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or by email at, PACER Quarterly Announcements |April 2023, Upcoming Release: PACER Case Locator Login Update, PACER Quarterly Announcements | January 2023. Tex.). In a July 2019 complaint, the government alleged that Facebook violated a 2012 FTC Order and committed new violations of the FTC Act by misrepresenting to consumers how to protect personal data and how Facebook used such data. Cal. Docket Number: 19-CV-00027 (C.D. The settlement includes a $437.5 million federal civil penalty, which is the second largest payment of this type ever made to the federal government by a ratings agency. During a bench trial conducted last summer, the government presented evidence that each of the defendants had failed to comply with current good manufacturing practices, failed to keep records necessary to evaluate food safety, and processed fish in a way that could lead to Listeria monocytogenes contamination, all in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). Justice Department Files Suit Against Tampa-Area Physician, Pharmacy, and Clinic Owners for Opioid-Related Controlled Substances Act Violations. On January 12, 2017, Baxter Healthcare Corporation (Baxter) agreed to pay $18.158 million to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from its failure to follow current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) when manufacturing sterile drug products. Docket No. In pleading guilty, Wall admitted that beginning in 2007, he managed a call center in Manila associated with RX Limiteds online pharmaceutical sales websites. The order further requires the defendants to have the independent laboratory test their cheese products for the presence of Listeria, E. coli, and other bacteria. On June 1, 2020, U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola sentenced Francesco Guerra to 90 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his supervision of a Peruvian call center used to carry out a fraud and extortion scheme against American consumers. Defendant Found in Civil Contempt in Connection with Lottery Fraud Scheme. (civil case). The Dutch authorities also took control of the Dutch postal boxes used by the defendants to receive victim funds. Lindo received victims money, kept a portion for herself, and sent the remainder to individuals in Jamaica. The Courts order prohibits the defendants from continuing to manufacture or distribute their products unless and until they come into compliance with the law. The charges in the indictment stem from Indiviors marketing of Suboxone, an opioid drug used in the treatment of addiction. On May 6, 2016, the district court approved a consent decree resolving the claims against all remaining defendants in this civil action for injunction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 20-CV-4218 (C.D. The consent decree requires Neptune to cease all manufacturing operations and requires that, in order for defendants to resume distributing seafood products, the FDA first must determine that Neptunes manufacturing practices have come into compliance with the law. The lawsuit alleges that the Town of Over 97% of federal lawsuits are dismissed, most of which are due to 1:20-cv-02066 (D.D.C.). The consent decree entered by the court requires the defendants to implement specific remedial measures to comply with the law and obtain written approval from the FDA before distributing such drugs in the future. Ala.). Vendstar sales representatives misrepresented to victims the likely profits they would earn, how past customers were doing, the availability of high-profit locations, and services that purported locating companies would provide. As the trial began, his lawyer called her lawsuit a plan to make her famous. Clients made monthly payments expecting the money to go toward settlements. Docket Number: 1:20-cr-123 (W.D. United States v. Vivint Smart Home, Inc., Case No. In this appeal, he argued that the sentence was substantively unreasonable given, among other things, his age and health, and his non-citizenship concerns. Through a separate company that it contracted with to market and distribute LC Bead in the United States, Biocompatibles marketed LC Bead to deliver chemotherapy drugs a use that was never cleared or approved by the FDA. According to the complaint, FDA inspections documented significant deficiencies relating to cleanliness and hygienic practices to protect against food contamination, causing the defendants products to be adulterated under the law. Fla.). Court Enters Order of Permanent Injunction Against California Mung Bean and Soy Manufacturer United States v. Henh Wong Fresh Produce, et al. Tex.). Henrys Farm manufactured and distributed a variety of soybean sprouts and repackaged and distributed mung bean sprouts. On April 29, 2019, Caprice R. Bearden was sentenced in Indianapolis for her role in a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concerning the distribution of under- and over-potent compounded drugs. Fla.). Fla.). On February 22, 2019, Judge David Carter denied defendants motion to dismiss the United States complaint, finding that statements on websites can constitute drug labeling under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). The Food and Drug Administration cleared LC Bead to be used for embolization, a process in which the flow of blood to liver tumors is stopped or reduced. The United States alleged in a complaint filed January 26 that WeCare Pharmacy, its pharmacist owner Qingping Zhang, pharmacy technician Li Yang, and another related corporate entity, L&Y Holdings LLC, repeatedly dispensed opioids in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Subject to Rules 23(e), 23.1(c), 23.2, and 66 and any applicable federal statute, the plaintiff may dismiss an action Fla.). New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Large-Scale International Mass-Mailing Fraud SchemeUnited States v. Ryan Young Charges Unsealed Against Three Individuals Alleged to Have Operated Massive Mail Fraud Scheme United States v. Thanos, United States v. Lett, United States v. Runner In addition, Valdes and Font were charged with money laundering, and Valdes was charged with making a false statement to FDA investigators during a regulatory inspection. Create a PACER account or log in to manage your account and pay a bill. On September 27, 2016, Vania Lee Allen was sentenced to 40 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release following her conviction on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and falsely impersonate an employee of the United States. Epsilon further admitted that over the course of nearly a decade, the company knowingly sold 30 million American consumers data to clients engaged in fraud. This will generate a listing of nationwide court locations and case numbers where a party is involved in federal litigation. 3:19-CR-00632 (N.D. Many victims received nothing; others received only a cheap piece of jewelry or a report listing unrelated sweepstakes. Weir admitted that claims the device could safely and effectively treat virtually any disease were false and intended to mislead consumers. British Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Fraud Scheme That Victimized Hundreds of Thousands of U.S. Consumers United States v. Long, Press Release The indictment charges Indivior with mail, wire, and health care fraud conspiracy and substantive counts. Fla.);2:16-CR-0191 (C.D. United States v. Yabe, Hisao, Press Release MediNatura recently filed a second motion for preliminary injunction pending appeal, claiming that it was likely to succeed on the merits of the dismissed import alert claims due to changed circumstances. Summons and Complaint -- When the United States Attorney decides a federal civil law has been violated, a civil litigator, known as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, files a Summons and Complaint in U.S. District Court and has a copy of the documents served on the alleged offender, who is called the defendant. Facebook paid the $5 billion penalty on April 29, 2020. Some of the defendants products also contained undisclosed active pharmaceutical ingredients. Decide who you are going to sue. Lindo is a Jamaican national and naturalized U.S. citizen. The Indictment also charged Lytle with obstruction of FDA proceedings. Four Individuals Charged in Connection with Clinical Trial Fraud Scheme. Va.). All of the defendants played roles in developing, manufacturing, or marketing the popular USP Labs supplements known as Jack3d and OxyElite Pro. On June 2, 2017, Claude Shaw of Miramar, Florida, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his participation in a fraudulent lottery scam based in Jamaica. In addition, S.K. After obtaining payment, company employees made little effort to obtain modifications. As part of his guilty plea, Guerra admitted that he and others in Peru called victims in the United States claiming to be attorneys or government representatives. View Complaint. According to the complaint, FDAs analysis of environmental samples collected during two 2016 inspections revealed the presence of L. mono contamination in multiple locations throughout the facility.