The president and vice president of a Great Neck pharmaceutical company were indicted in federal court on Wednesday on charges that they sold unregulated and counterfeit drugs to medical practices throughout the United States.
William Scully, 45, and Shahrad Rodi Lameh, 40, face up to 20 years in prison, the forfeiture of more than $17 million in profits and a $250,000 fine for allegedly selling fraudulent cancer medications and intrauterine birth control devices not approved by the Food and Drug Administration through Medical Device King, prosecutors said.
The 73-count indictment, unsealed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Central Islip, includes charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, distribution of misbranded and counterfeit prescription drugs, trafficking in counterfeit goods and smuggling, prosecutors said.
“The defendants deliberately and repeatedly flouted the laws enacted to protect our citizens, all in order to flood the market with counterfeit and unapproved drugs and medical devices just so they could line their own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch. “We and our law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue and prosecute those who seek to profit from the illness of others by such fraud.”
The indictment alleges that Scully, of Commack, and Lameh, of Manhasset, sold the counterfeit cancer drugs to an oncology practice in Iowa and the Mirena brand birth control devices to women’s clinics throughout the country, grossing more than $17 million in profits since March 2009.
“The FDA will remain vigilant in our efforts against those who would threaten the integrity of the prescription drug supply chain by introducing counterfeit and unapproved products for their own financial gain,” said Mark Dragonetti, the Food and Drug Administration’s special agent-in-charge.
