February 14, 2018: Palmer Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Import Prescription Drugs from Pakistan
|
Food and Drug Administration
|
|
U.S. Department of Justice Press Release
|
|---|
|
For Immediate Release |
United States Department of Justice District of Massachusetts |
|---|
BOSTON – A Palmer man was sentenced for conspiring to import prescription drugs from Pakistan.
Harry Aliengena, 65, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. In November 2017, Aliengena pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import controlled substances, two counts of felony introduction of misbranded drugs with intent to defraud or mislead, and one count of misdemeanor introduction of misbranded drugs.
Between July 2011 and June 2012, Aliengena conspired to import prescription drugs from Pakistan into the United States and distributed misbranded drugs to U.S. customers. Aliengena communicated regularly with a Pakistani company and ordered various drugs - including Ritalin, Percocet, Hydrocodone, Adderall, and Restoril - all DEA controlled substances. Aliengena then reshipped a portion of these drugs to customers in the United States on behalf of the Pakistani company in return for payments and discounts on drugs for his personal use.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office; and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Topic(s):
Drug Trafficking
Opioids
Prescription Drugs
Component(s):