U.S. Department of Justice FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMonday, September 19, 2022 A federal jury convicted a Florida woman on September 13 of making a false statement to a government investigator related to her role in a clinical trial that studied the effectiveness of asthma drugs in children. According to evidence presented at trial, Jessica Palacio, 36,…
Former President of Washington State Manufacturer Charged with Selling Tainted Fruit Juice
U.S. Department of Justice FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEThursday, September 15, 2022 A federal grand jury in Yakima, Washington, returned an indictment charging a Washington woman and her now-closed company with manufacturing and distributing tainted fruit juice and deceiving customers about the contaminated products. The indictment alleges that Mary Ann Bliesner, 80, of Sunnyside, Washington, and her company,…
Former Nurse Agrees to Plead Guilty to Drug Diversion from Two Boston-Area Hospitals
Department of JusticeDistrict of Massachusetts FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETuesday, September 13, 2022 BOSTON – A former nurse has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with the diversion of opioids from two Boston-area hospitals. Lisa Tarr, 33, of St. Petersburg, Fla., was charged and has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of unlawfully…
Texas Anesthesiologist Arrested on Charges Related to Alleged Tampering with IV Bags Implicated in Death, Surgical Emergencies
Department of JusticeNorthern District of Texas FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEThursday, September 15, 2022 A Dallas anesthesiologist who allegedly injected nerve blocking agents and other drugs into patient IV bags at a local surgery center – resulting in at least one death and multiple cardiac emergencies – was arrested Wednesday on federal criminal charges, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney…
Five Physicians Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Crimes in Connection with HOPE Clinic
Department of JusticeSouthern District of West Virginia FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMonday, September 12, 2022 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Five physicians pleaded guilty in connection with prescription practices at HOPE Clinic, a purported pain management clinic that operated in Beckley, Beaver and Charleston, West Virginia, and Wytheville, Virginia. Four of the physicians each pleaded guilty to a felony count…
Horse Doping Seller Sentenced to 42 Months in Manhattan Federal Court
Department of JusticeSouthern District of New York FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEThursday, September 8, 2022 Lisa Giannelli Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that defendant LISA GIANNELLI, received a sentence of 42 months in prison today for her role in an approximately 20-year scheme…
Former Paramedic Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Tampering
Department of JusticeDistrict of Massachusetts FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETuesday, September 6, 2022 BOSTON – A former Massachusetts emergency medical technician (EMT) paramedic has pleaded guilty to tampering with liquid fentanyl vials at the ambulance company at which she worked. Candice Mangan, 43, of Medford, pleaded guilty on Aug. 30, 2022 in federal court in Boston to one…
Albuquerque Supplement Retailer Sentenced to Three Years’ Probation for Performance Enhancing Drugs
Department of JusticeDistrict of New Mexico FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEThursday, September 1, 2022 PEDs Were Banned by U.S. and World Anti-Doping Agencies ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Tanya Puccini was sentenced on Aug. 30 to three years of probation for introduction and delivery of misbranded…
South Florida Federal Judge Orders Prison Time for Former Pharmatech CEO
Department of JusticeSouthern District of FLorida FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEThursday, September 1, 2022 Miami, Florida – A former owner and CEO of a Broward County drug manufacturing company who lied to the FDA and allowed contaminated products to make their way to pediatric hospitals was sentenced yesterday to 37 months in federal prison. Raidel Figueroa co-owned Pharmatech,…
South Carolina Man Sentenced for Unlawful Distribution of Anabolic Steroids and Unapproved Steroid-like Drugs
U.S. Department of Justice FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMonday, August 29, 2022 The owner of a South Carolina supplement company was sentenced to one day and one year of imprisonment for manufacturing and shipping unapproved drugs and anabolic steroids, the Department of Justice announced. John F. Cochcroft, 37, of Lexington, South Carolina, pleaded guilty on May 25,…