Scott Edward Cavell, DNP Sales, California 2017

Sacramento man Scott Edward Cavell, 36, was sentenced to three years in federal prison today for selling fertilizer disguised as a fat-burning pill. U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez handed down the sentence after Cavell admitted to orchestrating a scheme to market 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP)—a toxic industrial chemical—as a weight-loss supplement between 2015 and 2017.

Cavell, with accomplices, compounded cheap fertilizer into pill form and sold it online, raking in at least $763,000. He marketed the pills through websites posing as dietary supplements, even as he falsely labeled the product as ‘fertilizer’ to skirt FDA regulations. One site, thefertizerwarehouse.com, was specifically designed to mislead federal regulators while shipping deadly doses to consumers across the country.

U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott didn’t mince words: ‘Cavell thought he could trick regulators. He was wrong. It’s past time for him to learn that we will ensure these types of schemes are stopped to keep the community safe.’

DNP is not approved by the FDA for human consumption under any circumstances. Long known for its use in dyes, wood preservatives, and pesticides, the chemical has been linked to hyperthermia, organ failure, and sudden death. The FDA has declared it too dangerous for ingestion—yet Cavell pushed it as a ‘miracle’ fat burner to desperate dieters.

Special Agent in Charge Lisa L. Malinowski of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations warned: ‘Drugs produced outside FDA oversight present a real danger to public health.’ She emphasized the agency’s commitment to cracking down on illegal online drug sales. Homeland Security Investigations’ Ryan L. Spradlin added: ‘Individuals who choose to circumvent drug regulations should continue looking over their shoulders.’

The case was jointly investigated by the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hemesath prosecuted. Postal Inspector Rafael Nunez noted the operation highlights ongoing efforts to intercept dangerous substances before they reach American homes.

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