branch of JusticeU.S. lawyer's OfficeCentral District of California
FOR immediate RELEASETuesday, February 9, 2021
SANTA ANA, California – A Fullerton man changed into sentenced nowadays to 46 months in federal prison for illegally importing bulk quantities of erectile dysfunction medicine that he marketed as natural male sexual enhancement products in a scheme that earned him thousands and thousands of greenbacks.
Nam Hyun Lee, sixty two, a.ok.a. "Daniel Lee," a South Korean national illegally residing in the united states, became sentenced this morning by way of united states District judge James V. Selna.
Lee pleaded responsible in September to 1 count number of smuggling misbranded drugs, in this case Sildenafil, the lively ingredient in Viagra. Lee specially admitted that in late 2016, he led to 21.4 kilograms of the drug to be imported into the U.S. from China. In his plea agreement, Lee admitted smuggling both Sildenafil and Tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis, that have been illegally brought into the U.S. under descriptions similar to "Acrylic Paint" and "Glass Bottles."
Lee used the Sildenafil and Tadalafil to fabricate capsules he offered to distributors, who then sold the items to liquor, gasoline and convenience outlets throughout the united states, according to court docket files. in spite of the fact that his products contained drugs that required a prescription, the labels on Lee's products both cited that no prescription was vital or did not state one changed into vital – meaning the products have been mislabeled.
Over the route of about 2½ years – except his companies have been shut down through federal authorities in October 2018 – Lee bought at the least $3.5 million price of drugs under a large number of names, including "Rhino" and variations of that identify.
Lee "organized the importation of bulk active pharmaceutical parts into the U.S. from China under false pretenses," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. "He then used this bulk powder to promote counterfeit prescription medicine throughout the united states totaling tens of millions in earnings. at least one of the most patrons of [Lee's] medication, sufferer S.S., suffered a serious clinical circumstance after taking [Lee's] counterfeit tablets."
Lee has been in federal custody considering that his arrest in this case on October 31, 2018.
Lee has agreed to forfeit his $1.2 million home in Fullerton, basically $458,000 seized from eight financial institution accounts, $346,324 in U.S. foreign money, and a 2018 Cadillac Escalade.
The investigation in this case changed into conducted by way of the USA meals and Drug Administration's office of crook Investigations, fatherland safety Investigations, the la Police department, U.S. Customs and Border insurance policy, and the FBI.
This case was prosecuted by using Assistant united states lawyer Jake Nare of the Santa Ana department office. Assistant u.s. Attorneys Katie Schonbachler and Victor A. Rodgers of the Asset Forfeiture part dealt with the forfeiture factor of the case.
topic(s):consumer ProtectionPrescription medicine
component(s):USAO - California, central
Contact:Thom Mrozek Director of Media relations u.s. lawyer's workplace vital District of California (la) thom.mrozek@usdoj.gov (213) 894-6947
Press release number:21-030
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