Houston Resident Pleads Guilty in Counterfeit Drug Importation Conspiracy

Pakistani national, Mohammad Jamal Rashid, 45, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy related to the illegal importation and attempted trafficking of counterfeit drugs, and one count of receiving and delivering misbranded drugs. Rashid, who currently lives in Houston, Texas, has admitted that he illegally imported over 7,000 doses of counterfeit and misbranded ED medications to his home in Houston under a false name and with a false customs forms. The pills were shipped to the defendant’s residence from China in unmarked foil blister packs. He faces a possible punishment is up to eight years in prison and a $260,000 in fines.

Who: HSI, FDA OCI, U.S. Department of Justice.

When: January 10, 2014, January 2012-September 2013.

Where:Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

How: HIS and FDA-OCI joint Investigation.

Additional details: The drugs sent to Rashid looked authentic, tests conducted by the FDA, Pfizer and Eli Lilly proved the drugs were counterfeit and misbranded and contained little or no active ingredient. The pills themselves also had inconsistencies in physical appearance and packaging.

Related sources:

" Guilty Plea in Counterfeit Viagra® and Cialis® Case ,"DOJ Press Release. January 10, 2014.

" Pakistani pleads guilty in Texas fake drugs case,"The Graham Leader. January 11, 2014.

" Permanent Resident Charged in Viagra® and Cialis® case ,"DOJ Press Release. December 24, 2013.

" Houston man caught trafficking fake Viagra,"KTRH. January 12, 2014.

" Pakistani pleads guilty in fake erectile dysfunction drugs case ,"KTRK-TV. January 11, 2014.