5 Indicted for Prescription Drug Smuggling

Five men have been charged by the federal government with conspiring to smuggle prescription drugs into the U.S. illegally. Two of the defendants also were charged with money laundering conspiracy and one with a single count of money laundering.

A Department of Justice statement says the defendants operated two Web sites that sold prescription drugs and some controlled substances. One of the sites also sold anabolic-androgenic steroids. The indictment alleges that the drugs sold on the sites were manufactured largely, if not entirely, outside the U.S. and smuggled into the country illegally for distribution to customers throughout the U.S. According to the indictment, the sites did not ask customers for prescriptions, even though the drugs they sold require a person to be under the supervision of a licensed practitioner.

The statement names FDA Chicago Field Office special agent in charge Lynda Burdelik among those responsible for the investigation.