Canadians Sentenced for Selling Counterfeit Drugs in the U.S.

Two Canadians investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration for selling counterfeit medications were sentenced on February 14th, 2011, after plea bargaining with investigators to avoid trial.

Jim and Gregory James Armstrong, father and son, admitted they were smuggling counterfeit erectile dysfunction medication across the border to Canada to sell in Vancouver nightclubs, reported the Toronto Sun.

Prosecution and defense lawyers recommended Jim Armstrong’s sentence be $50,000 in fines and credit for jail time served, while Gregory Armstrong’s be 366 days imprisonment. The family’s plea bargain was settled on October 21, 2010.

USFDA agents busted Jim Armstrong with a box containing 2,804 fake erectile dysfunction drugs shipped from China at a Blaine, Washington postal outlet. Gregory Armstrong told an undercover agent that he had been selling the pills for $15 apiece for three years.

The Armstrong’s used a U.S. post office box to receive 22 shipments in the course of a year and in addition to selling in nightclubs, also used online advertisements and paper flyers in Richmond and South Vancouver, Washington for pick-up locations.

Gregory Armstrong was “banned” from the University of British Columbia for his involvement, reported the defense counsel, where he studied sports medicine and kinesiology. His current employment is with a medical supply company.