Jail for 2 Women in Clinical Trial Data Case
Two women who worked for Tellus Clinical Research in Miami, FL, have been sentenced by a Florida federal judge to terms in prison for their part in a conspiracy to falsify clinical trial data. A Justice Department statement says Analay Rico, Fort Lauderdale, a lead study coordinator, was sentenced to 40 months in prison, while Daylan Diaz, Miami, a research assistant and assistant study coordinator, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. The court also ordered the two to pay about $2.1 million in restitution.
As part of their plea agreements, the department says, Rico and Diaz admitted they agreed with others to defraud clients paying for clinical trial work intended to evaluate treatments for various medical conditions including opioid dependency, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetic nephropathy. Among other things, the statement says, the two admitted they falsified data to make it appear as though subjects were participating in a clinical trial.
Three co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy, the department says.
FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case.