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# Eight Charged in Clinical Trial Fraud Scheme
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/eight-charged-in-clinical-trial-fraud-scheme/
- Published: 2020-08-06T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T16:24:07.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5147375

The Department of Justice says an Ohio federal grand jury on 7/31 returned a 19-count indictment charging eight people with participating in a scheme to defraud eight drug companies and FDA through conducting fraudulent clinical trials. A department [statement](https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/press-releases/eight-charged-scheme-defraud-fda-and-falsify-records-used-clinical-research-trials?ref=fdaweb.com) says the eight were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and failure to maintain adequate records.

According to the indictment, the defendants and their co-conspirators are alleged to have agreed with the drug companies to conduct clinical trials. They are alleged to have subverted FDA clinical trial requirements by enrolling subjects in trials under fictitious names, enrolling past subjects without their knowledge, and enrolling other subjects who did not meet pre-established criteria. They also allegedly fabricated and falsified medical records, informed consent forms, and other documentation for fictitious study subjects.

Court documents show that the defendants were able to enrich themselves in the scheme by billing the trial sponsors for the time and participation of the fictitious subjects, the department says.