CG attorneys previously wrote about Armando Herrera pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to introduce adulterated and misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. The DOJ announced that Herrara has been sentenced for his role in the scheme.
According to court documents, Herrera and his co-conspirators established companies in Florida, Texas, Washington, and California to use as channels for the sale and distribution of adulterated medications, including medications for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Herrera used the sham companies to sell and distribute adulterated medications, or prescription drugs that have been substituted wholly or in part which could reduce the drug’s quality, to wholesale pharmaceutical suppliers. Herrera and his co-conspirators manufactured false documentation to make their drugs appear legitimate. In turn, the adulterated prescriptions were distributed to unsuspecting pharmacies and ultimately to patients.
Court documents suggest that over $16.7 million worth of adulterated drugs were introduced into interstate commerce, including popular HIV drugs such as Truvada and Biktarvy. Biktarvy is a 1-pill per day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and some children. Truvada is used to both treat HIV and for pre-exposure prophylaxis—to protect against the virus. More than $1.5 million worth of adulterated prescription drugs were seized by federal agents, including more than 16,000 adulterated and misbranded HIV tablets.
Herrera faced a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and he was sentenced to four years and three months in prison on December 21st . The Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which has charged more than 5,400 defendants since its inception in March 2007, helped bring this matter to prosecution.
The attorneys at Chilivis Grubman represent clients of all types and sizes in connection to health care fraud litigation and government investigations. If you need assistance with such a matter, please contact us today.