Lisa Wheeler, Selling Misbranded Pet Medications, Vermont 2022

A Lyndonville woman has been sentenced for her role in selling misbranded pet medications in Vermont.

Lisa Wheeler, 56, of Lyndonville, was sentenced by United States Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford on April 19, 2022 to time served for selling misbranded pet medications which were not approved for use in the United States.

Chief Judge Crawford also sentenced Wheeler to three months of probation during which she must complete 20 hours of community service at a humane society or other animal charity.

The maximum penalty for this misdemeanor offense was one year imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.

Lisa Wheeler also agreed to forfeit a substantial amount of pet medications, which were seized from her residence pursuant to a search warrant executed in August 2020.

As the government noted at sentencing, Wheeler fully accepted responsibility for the offense and cooperated with the investigation.

Wheeler received hundreds of bulk packages of misbranded pet medications from a United Kingdom company associated with Bestflea.com, Petbucket.com, and Pharma Group.

She repackaged them for shipping to customers within the United States and received a commission from the owner of the British companies for each parcel she shipped on their behalf.

Acting Special Agent in Charge Ronne G. Malham, Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office stated that “FDA’s responsibility to protect the public health includes ensuring that prescription drugs for animals are safe and effective and dispensed according to valid veterinary prescriptions.

This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration (Office of Criminal Investigations) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in the investigation of Wheeler.

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