CONCORD, N.H. – Mustafa Hasan Arif, 37, a man with dual citizenship in Pakistan and the United Kingdom, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for orchestrating an international wire fraud scheme that bilked over $12.8 million from unsuspecting victims worldwide.
According to court documents and statements, Arif sold fraudulent drugs purporting to cure a multitude of serious diseases, including cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s. He operated more than 1,500 websites from Lahore, Pakistan, peddling his false cures while falsely claiming clinical research and cure rates that were completely fabricated.
Arif was initially arrested in New York in February 2014 and later transported to New Hampshire, where he pleaded guilty to wire fraud on October 11, 2016.
‘The defendant’s conduct was reprehensible,’ Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley said. ‘He preyed on vulnerable individuals who were seeking cures for illnesses with no known remedies, leaving them emotionally and financially exploited.’
Jeffrey J. Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ New York Field Office, echoed Farley’s sentiments, stating that such criminals ‘can adversely affect the public’s health’ and that the agency will continue to pursue those who exploit consumers for profit.
The investigation was led by the FDA/Office of Criminal Investigations, Cybercrime Investigations Unit, with assistance from various agencies including Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Arnold H. Huftalen and Sarah Hawkins of the FDA/Office of Chief Counsel prosecuted the case.
RELATED: Dual Citizen Pleads Guilty in $12M Wire Fraud Scam
Related Federal Cases
- Dual Citizen Pleads Guilty in $12M Wire Fraud Scam · New York
- Texas Man Facing Wire Fraud Charges for CARES Act Scam · Washington
- Nigerian National Sentenced to 63 Months for Credit Card Fraud Scheme · New Hampshire
- Yonkers Man Guilty of Mail and Wire Fraud · New Hampshire
- Phan and Tran Sentenced in $330,000 Cell Phone Fraud Scheme · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: New Hampshire
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News