February 26, 2016: Florence Man Sentenced for Smuggling and Distributing Prescription Drugs
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U.S. Department of Justice Press Release
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For Immediate Release |
United States Department of Justice District of South Carolina |
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Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced today that Florence resident Willard Lester “Les” Willard, age 51, was sentenced for his role in an international conspiracy to smuggle and distribute approximately $600,000 in prescription drugs in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. United States District Court Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Willard to 12 months home confinement and 5 years probation.
Beginning in 2010, Willard ran a fulfillment center for foreign drug companies that illegally sold unapproved pharmaceutical drugs to U.S. residents. He also sold unapproved prescription drugs to U.S. customers through a website, www.click1market.com [external link], that he maintained and controlled. Willard shipped more than 10,000 packages containing the smuggled drugs.
“The safety of the U.S. pharmaceutical drug supply is of critical importance,” said Nettles. “The proliferation of illegal online pharmacies means that individuals like this defendant are putting Americans at risk by selling drugs of unknown quality and efficacy in the interest of profit. This is not merely a regulatory crime and we will not treat it as such.”
The case was investigated by Special Agents with the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation, working with Homeland Security Investigations and Inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Klumb is prosecuting the case.
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Updated February 26, 2016