Create a free Manufacturing.net account to continue

Co-Owner Of Va. Drug Firm Admits Illegal Imports

Thirty-eight-year-old Syed "Farhan" Huda of Arlington entered the plea Monday in federal court in Alexandria on charges of importation fraud, selling misbranded drugs and distributing prescription drugs without a license.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) -- The co-owner of a now-defunct Virginia drug company has pleaded guilty to illegally importing Botox and other prescription drugs and selling them to physicians in violation of the Food and Drug Administration's regulatory scheme.

Thirty-eight-year-old Syed "Farhan" Huda of Arlington entered the plea Monday in federal court in Alexandria on charges of importation fraud, selling misbranded drugs and distributing prescription drugs without a license.

Huda, a Canadian citizen, also entered a guilty plea on behalf of the corporation, Gallant Pharma. He is the eighth person to plead guilty in connection with the FDA's investigation of Gallant.

Court records state that Gallant represented itself as a Canadian company but was actually importing drugs from countries including Turkey and Switzerland. Prosecutors say the drugs were shipped in ways that compromised their safety.

More in Operations