Grimy Times has learned that a Rhode Island man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in an international conspiracy to import and distribute prescription drugs and anabolic steroids.
Patrick Cunningham, 44, of Cranston, RI, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his participation in the conspiracy, which was led by Edmond Paolucci, 54, of Coventry, RI, and involved the importation of misbranded prescription drugs and bulk quantities of pills and injectable oil-based drugs from Israel, Turkey, and Bulgaria.
According to court documents, Cunningham and Paolucci used an underground laboratory to repackage the drugs into retail-size pill packets and 10 ml vials, bearing Sciroxx and Xsorox labels. The repackaged drugs were then shipped to customers in the United States who had made purchases on websites operated by Paolucci and his Israeli co-conspirators.
A significant portion of the proceeds from the sale of the misbranded drugs was sent back to co-conspirators in Israel. Records obtained from money transfer service companies showed that from February 2009 to September 2011, Paolucci transferred in excess of $76,000 in proceeds from steroid and prescription drug sales to individuals in Israel.
Cunningham pleaded guilty on March 12, 2013, to one count each of conspiracy to distribute steroids and distribution of a misbranded drug. Paolucci pleaded guilty in November 2012 to one count each of conspiracy to distribute steroids, possession with the intent to distribute steroids, distribution of a misbranded drug, and money laundering.
Paolucci was sentenced on April 9, 2013, by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to serve 33 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard B. Myrus.
The investigation was conducted by a task force led by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations. The task force partnerships include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Rhode Island State Police, North Providence Police, East Providence Police, and the Rhode Island National Guard. International counterparts at the Israel Ministry of Health, Division of Enforcement and Inspection, and Jerusalem Customs and VAT also provided significant assistance in the successful investigation and prosecution of this matter.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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