GRAND JURY INDICTS INTERNET PHARMACISTS ON Rx RACKETEERING CHARGES

Two pharmacists and a pharmacy owner were among 18 individualsindicted by a federal grand jury on racketeering charges associatedwith illegal sales of prescription drugs on the Internet.

Operating as an online pharmaceutical distribution networkknown as Affpower throughout the United States and abroad, thedefendants allegedly generated >$126 million in illegal online Rxsales. The sophisticated operation?which also involved several physicians, a creditcardprocessor, and 2 individuals responsible for recruiting pharmacists and doctorsinto the scheme?received >1 million Internet orders for controlled and noncontrolledprescription pharmaceuticals from customers in all 50 states, said Justice Departmentprosecutors.

In addition to the racketeering charges, the Internet pharmacists were charged withmail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and the dispensing ofmisbranded drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead.