$57 Million Prescription Drug Scam Exposed in Chicago Suburbs
CHICAGO — A federal indictment has charged GURUCHARAN DUA, 50, of Naperville, with six counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and three counts of money laundering in connection with the re-sale of diverted prescription drugs to pharmacies and wholesalers in the Chicago area.
According to the indictment, DUA, owner of a Plainfield-based distribution company, purchased more than $57.2 million worth of diverted prescription drugs from unlicensed suppliers between 2011 and 2017 and then sold them to unsuspecting pharmacies and wholesalers, falsely representing them as legitimate prescription drugs.
The indictment alleges that DUA directed his employees to clean the bottles of the diverted drugs to make them appear as if they came from a regulated prescription drug distribution chain.
“Patients deserve to have confidence that they are receiving the legitimately prescribed medication and not an unregulated, diverted drug,” said U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. “Individuals who take advantage of their positions and seek to profit from diverted prescription drugs will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Lausch and Lynda M. Burdelik, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations.
DUA is scheduled to appear in court on August 31, 2021, for arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey I. Cummings. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of mail and wire fraud and up to 10 years for each count of money laundering.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will continue to protect consumers by investigating and bringing to justice those who attempt to traffic in diverted prescription drugs, said FDA SAC Burdelik.
The public is reminded that charges are not evidence of guilt and that DUA is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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