Newark, N.J. – A French national is facing serious charges for attempting to fraudulently gain control of a weight-loss drug in the U.S. Alain Bouaziz, 68, was arrested at Newark Liberty Airport as he tried to leave the country.
Bouaziz, who represented himself as the chief operating officer of Hexim Pharmaceuticals, is accused of making false statements to the FDA and submitting forged documents in an attempt to get control of Sanorex. He is set to appear today via videoconference.
Documents filed in court detail how Bouaziz falsely claimed that Hexim had purchased the rights to Sanorex from a major international pharmaceutical company, despite knowing this was not true. He altered agreements and sent false letters to the FDA, seeking marketing approval for the drug.
The charge of making false statements carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig commended the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation for their work on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayden M. Brockett is representing the government in Newark.
Despite the charges, Bouaziz is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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