Pharmacist Convicted: Importer of Counterfeit Viagra and Cialis from China
On May 24, 2006, a Texas jury convicted James George, a licensed pharmacist and owner of Lifeway Pharmacy in San Jacinto, Texas, of conspiracy to introduce in interstate commerce counterfeit and misbranded pharmaceutical drugs and trafficking in counterfeit drugs from China. The jury deliberated less than two hours before finding George guilty on all six counts alleged in the indictment. Evidence presented at trial showed that ICE inspectors at the Dallas Fort Worth Airport had found large quantities of Viagra and Cialis in a package shipped from China and addressed to George's home. The shipping documents identified its contents as health food. Pfizer and Eli Lily confirmed the drugs were counterfeit. On December 9, 2004, a controlled delivery of the package was made by an FDA agent posing as an employee of a delivery company. When confronted by the agent, George said, and later testified at trial, that he did not know the drugs were counterfeit and had planned to send the drugs to Nigeria.
Testimony showed that George ordered the drugs from China over the internet for 30 to 35 cents a tablet. Click here for more information.