Pennsylvania Pharmacist Sentenced for Passing Imported, Misbranded Drugs Off As FDA-Approved

Four years after pleading guilty in 2013, a Pennsylvania pharmacist has been sentenced to 6 months of home detention and three years probation after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to smuggle foreign drugs in the United States and money laundering, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.

According to the DOJ, Jeffrey A. Markovitz purchased drugs from a Canadian business that offered for sale drug made in other countries, such as Spain and Turkey.  Markovitz then substituted the cheaper, non-FDA-approved medication he had purchased from Canada to fill prescriptions for his customers at Dierken’s Pharmacy, without their knowledge.

Markowitz’ sentencing memoranda identifies the 2 Canadian pharmacies Markowitz did business with as Quantum Pharmacy and Universal Pharmacy. According to the DOJ, Markowitz paid almost $56,000 to purchase misbranded drugs to fill prescriptions coming into his pharmacy.