Lawrence A. Swanson, Selling Drug Samples, Pennsylvania 2011

A Pittsburgh man has pleaded guilty to selling prescription drug samples in western Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Lawrence A. Swanson, 54, of Allegheny County, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully selling drug samples in federal court on January 15, 2014, before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Swanson, from in and around January 2005, to in and around May 2011, knowingly and unlawfully sold drug samples, specifically, samples of Allegra, Avalide, Avapro, Avelox, Benicar, Celebrex, Crestor, Cymbalta, Diovan, Diovan HCT, Evista, Janumet, Januvia, Lexapro, Lovaza, Lyrica, Micardis HCT, Namenda, Nexium, Plavix, Prevacid, Prilosec, Seroquel XR, Singular, TriCor, Vytorin, Zetia, Zyprexa, Benicar, Lipitor, and Pristi Q, prescription drugs.

Assistant United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Lawrence A. Swanson.

Swanson faces a possible sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, according to the law.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for January 31, 2014.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/churchill-man-pleads-guilty-selling-drug-samples