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South Florida Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison Term for Illegal Importation of Prescription Drugs

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Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 9, 2021

Miami, Florida – A Boynton Beach, Florida woman who illegally imported unapproved prescription drugs was sentenced today in federal district court in Ft. Pierce to six months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

In August 2018, Jhanna Novikov, 58, agreed to provide “Botox” treatments to an undercover investigator with the Florida Department of Health for $600.  Agents of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations then searched Novikov’s home, which included an area set up to look like a medical treatment office.  Agents seized various drugs containing botulinum toxin, the active ingredient in Botox.  However, those drugs had not been approved by FDA and were not properly labeled for shipment in the United States.  Agents did not find any Botox or other FDA-approved drugs containing botulinum toxin in Novikov’s home.  Forensic analysis of Novikov’s cell phone revealed that Novikov had imported the drugs from Mexico, in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and had been importing such drugs since 2016.

Novikov previously pled guilty to one count of importation of merchandise contrary to law.  U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon imposed today’s sentence, which also included a fine, a special assessment, and a $6,813.15 restitution order.

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), Miami Field Office, announced the sentence.

FDA-OCI Miami investigated the case, with assistance from Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Osborne prosecuted this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-80108.

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Topic(s): 
Prescription Drugs
Component(s): 
USAO - Florida, Southern
Contact: 
Marlene Rodriguez Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney Public Affairs Officer USAFLS.News@usdoj.gov 

 
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