> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.fdaweb.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Jury Convicts 2 for Clinical Trial Fraud
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/jury-convicts-2-for-clinical-trial-fraud/
- Published: 2023-09-12T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T18:55:34.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5155310

A Florida federal court jury has convicted two defendants in a scheme involving the falsification and fabrication of clinical trial data. The jury on 9/5 convicted **Miguel Angel Montalvo Villa** and **Ivette Maria Portela Martinez**, both of Miami, on one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and of wire fraud. Montalvo also was convicted of making a false statement to FDA, according to a Department of Justice [release](https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/press-releases/miami-medical-clinic-owner-and-pharmacist-convicted-clinical-trial-fraud-scheme?ref=fdaweb.com).

A grand jury indictment had charged that from 9/2015 through 3/2018, the defendants and a co-conspirator conspired to falsify clinical trial data for profit while working at AMB Research Center, a Miami, FL, medical clinic. The department says that Montalvo was co-owner, president, and CEO of AMB, and Portela was its pharmacist and data entry specialist. They reportedly used the names of individuals without their knowledge or permission and listed them as subjects who were enrolled and participated in a clinical trial for a drug being developed to treat Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.

Montalvo and Portela falsified hundreds of pages of documents and entered that false information into clinical trial databases, to make it appear as though the purported trial subjects had the condition and were fully participating in the clinical trial, the statement says.

During an FDA inspection at AMB, Montalvo reportedly told the agency investigator that the principal investigator had obtained informed consent from all purported trial subjects. As part of the conspiracy, the department says, Montalvo submitted falsified and fraudulent invoices totaling $277,920.70 for AMB to be paid for conducting the trial.