PITTSBURGH, PA – Emil Koledin, also known as “Butch,” and his Hermitage, Pennsylvania-based company, Koledin Enterprises, Inc., have pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a brazen scheme to illegally import and sell unapproved drugs directly to consumers. The guilty pleas, entered before Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose, expose a network peddling potentially dangerous substances under the guise of “smart drugs.”
According to court documents, Koledin operated Koledin Enterprises, Inc. out of his Hermitage home, utilizing the website awakebrain.com as a storefront. He marketed a range of drugs manufactured primarily in Russia and China as “nootropics” – a term he deceptively spun as “Smart drugs, memory enhancers, neuro exchangers, and intelligence enhancements.” The pitch? A quick fix for cognitive function. The reality? A blatant disregard for federal regulations and public safety.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Koledin falsely claimed these drugs were legal for sale in the United States. In truth, the substances were illegally imported and prohibited from sale by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The imported drugs lacked proper labeling, directions for use, and crucial warnings. Furthermore, they originated from unapproved manufacturing facilities, raising serious concerns about their quality and safety. The list of illicit products included Adrafinil (aka Noofon), Bromantane, Coluracetam, Etifoxine (aka Stresam), Noopept, Piracetam (a/k/a Nootropil), Phenylpiracetam (aka Phenotropil), Sunifiram, Theanine, and Tianetine.
This wasn’t just a case of mislabeled supplements. These are drugs with potentially serious side effects, sold to unsuspecting customers with no oversight from the FDA. The scheme preyed on those seeking cognitive enhancement, offering a false promise of improved mental performance while exposing them to unknown risks. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania is taking a hard line against this type of reckless behavior.
Judge Ambrose has scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2019. Emil Koledin faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Koledin Enterprises, Inc. is facing a potential fine of $500,000. The actual sentences will be determined based on the severity of the offense and Koledin’s criminal history, if any. This case serves as a stark warning: circumventing FDA regulations and peddling unapproved drugs will be met with swift and severe consequences.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is leading the prosecution. The investigation was spearheaded by the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, highlighting the agency’s commitment to protecting the public from illegal and dangerous drug imports. This case underscores the critical need for vigilance against the growing online market for unregulated and potentially harmful substances.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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