Colin Harle, Counterfeit Pill Trafficking, Maine 2018

Counterfeit Pill Trafficking Lands South Portland Man in Prison

A South Portland man’s attempt to sell counterfeit alprazolam pills has landed him in prison. Colin Harle, 23, was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for holding for sale a counterfeit drug and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court records, Harle’s downfall began on August 27, 2018, when law enforcement officers arrested him in South Portland following his attempted sale of the counterfeit pills. The officers later discovered a safe in Westbrook, where they found approximately 20,000 counterfeit pills, $5,480 in U.S. currency, and a 9 mm pistol with two full magazines.

The Food and Drug Administration’s Forensic Chemistry Center confirmed that alprazolam was present in the pills and that they were counterfeit. The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.

Harle pleaded guilty to the charges on July 15, 2019. His sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of counterfeit pills and the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to combat the issue.

The sale of counterfeit pills can have devastating consequences, as the pills may contain unknown or deadly substances. Law enforcement agencies and health organizations are working together to raise awareness about the risks associated with counterfeit pills.

In related news, the FDA has issued warnings about the dangers of counterfeit pills. The agency has reported an increase in the number of counterfeit pills being sold in the United States, and has urged consumers to be cautious when purchasing medication online or from unknown sources.

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