A Pittsburgh federal court witnessed the initial appearance of 44-year-old Ramesh Buchirajam Akkela, aka Ramesh Bhai, an Indian national, who now faces serious charges. The defendant was extradited from Panama and brought before U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh to answer to allegations of mail fraud, conspiracy to misbrand and smuggle drugs, conspiracy to import Schedule IV controlled substances, and money laundering.
According to the indictment, Ramesh Buchirajam Akkela is accused of supplying prescription medication without prescriptions to consumers in the United States. The indictment, returned on July 28, 2015, names Akkela as the sole defendant on 14 counts. The charges include 10 counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to misbrand and smuggle drugs, one count of conspiracy to import Schedule IV controlled substances, and two counts of money laundering.
Each of the conspiracy counts carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, while the other counts have a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The money laundering counts come with a maximum fine of $500,000, and the remaining counts have a maximum fine of $250,000. The actual sentence would be determined by the seriousness of the offenses and the defendant’s prior criminal history.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai on behalf of the government. The investigation was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
An indictment is an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Ramesh Buchirajam Akkela’s current status is pending trial.
With the extradition and indictment, the U.S. government is taking a strong stance against international prescription drug trafficking. The case highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating cross-border crime.
Ramesh Buchirajam Akkela’s fate will be decided in a Pittsburgh federal court, where he will face the consequences of his alleged actions.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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