PHILADELPHIA — In a brazen scheme to deceive American consumers, Allentown resident Leandro Rodriguez, 45, has pleaded guilty to importing illicit controlled substances from China and selling them as ‘all natural’ dietary supplements.
According to court documents, Rodriguez entered a plea of guilty to conspiracy in connection with a fraud scheme to smuggle mislabeled drugs and sell them as dietary supplements before United States District Court Judge Edward G. Smith.
The charges arose from the defendant’s participation in a conspiracy from early 2011 until March 2017, to import from China and resell to consumers, substances falsely labelled as ‘all natural’ dietary supplements, but which the defendant knew contained the undeclared ingredient Sibutramine, a dangerous controlled substance that could not legally be sold in the United States.
The June 2019 Indictment charged Rodriguez with a multi-object conspiracy: defrauding the United States by impeding and impairing the lawful functions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and committing two offenses against the United States: smuggling, and receiving misbranded drugs and delivering those drugs in interstate commerce with intent to defraud.
“The United States sets standards for controlled substances in order to keep American consumers and patients safe,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams. “The defendant knowingly skirted our country’s importation laws, and sold dangerous drugs under the guise of benign supplements. This scheme put many people’s health and safety at risk.”
The case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary E. Crawley.
Leandro Rodriguez, whose real full name is Leandro Rodriguez, is scheduled to be sentenced on [no date specified].
Defendant/respondent: Leandro Rodriguez
Criminal charges: Conspiracy, defrauding the United States, smuggling, and receiving misbranded drugs
City and state: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Exact date: 2011 (conspiracy start date) and 2017 (conspiracy end date)
Sentence or outcome: Awaiting sentencing
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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