Nasif Baqla, Counterfeit Viagra Trafficking, Texas 2012

Houston Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking in Counterfeit Viagra Tablets

HOUSTON, Texas – A Houston man has pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit Viagra tablets, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson and Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Criminal Division.

Nasif Baqla, 26, of Houston, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Nancy F. Atlas to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, to introduce misbranded prescription drugs into interstate commerce and to import such goods contrary to U.S. law.

Baqla was indicted on Aug. 22, 2012, as were two other individuals – Jamal Khattab, 49, of Katy, and Fayez Al-Jabri, 45, of Chicago – in a separate, but related case. Khattab and Al-Jabri each pleaded guilty on Dec. 3, 2013, and March 21, 2014, respectively, to the same conspiracy charge as Baqla, as well as trafficking in counterfeit goods and introducing counterfeit drugs into interstate commerce in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

According to court documents, in July 2010, a package of counterfeit Viagra tablets was shipped from China to Houston, intended for Baqla and Khattab. The package was intercepted by Customs and Border Protection officers. Baqla claimed the pills were his and that he received them on behalf of a friend. Although the tablets were marked with trademarks substantially indistinguishable from the genuine marking on a legitimate Viagra pill, the drugs in the package were counterfeit and misbranded.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations, Diplomatic Security Service and police departments in Houston and Chicago. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kebharu Smith and Assistant Deputy Chief for Litigation John Zacharia of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.

The guilty plea by Baqla brings an end to the investigation and prosecution of the case. The defendants will face sentencing at a later date. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat the trafficking of counterfeit and misbranded prescription drugs.

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