A Virginia woman pleaded guilty this week to federal charges for selling black market prescription drugs and other drugs not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including injectables similar to Botox and popular weight-loss drugs.
Melissa Bandy, 54, pleaded guilty to charges of receiving misbranded drugs in interstate commerce and delivering and proffering for delivery the misbranded drugs for pay, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia announced Friday.
Bandy, who is not a licensed healthcare provider, used black-market websites to access prescription drugs manufactured overseas. "Many" of the drugs she acquired were injectables, including Saxenda, an FDA-approved weight loss drug, as well as SelaTox, Botulax 200, and Innotox, which are all facial injections similar to Botox.
"When the public buys an FDA-approved drug, they are purchasing a drug that has been vetted for safe consumption in line with its intended purpose," U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said in a statement. "When individuals skirt these safeguards in order to enrich themselves, they put the health and safety of others at risk. I am grateful to the FDA for their work on this important matter and their continued relationship with the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia."
Bandy resold dozens of misbranded and unapproved doses to multiple individuals, authorities said, despite the "serious negative health effects may occur by taking these drugs without legitimate medical supervision, including thyroid c-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, and acute gallbladder disease."
"Unlicensed individuals who sell unapproved and misbranded 'Botox-like' products and other prescription drugs put their unsuspecting customers at risk because FDA has not found these products to be safe and effective for their intended uses and they cannot be safely administered without the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner," said George Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metropolitan Washington Field Office. "We are fully committed to bringing to justice those who subvert FDA's requirements and place consumers at risk of serious harm. Our valued partnership with the Virginia State Police and the forethought of the Richlands Police Department for channeling this matter to FDA-OCI were integral to our efforts in safeguarding the public health and safety in this case."
Bandy's sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 1.
--with reporting by TMX
