Two men indicted in Texas for distributing counterfeit pharmaceuticals

February 27th, 2010 - 4:07 am ICT by BNO News  

HOUSTON, TEXAS (BNO NEWS) – Two men were indicted in Houston, Texas for distributing counterfeit pharmaceuticals, prosecutors said on Friday.

In separate cases, Edward Webb, 42, a resident of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Kum Leung Chow, also known as Lawrence Chow, 59, a citizen of Hong Kong, were indicted for their respective roles in their scheme to distribute in the United States counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs, which allegedly bore trademarks which represented that they were authentic.

Webb and Chow did not have authorization to manufacture and distribute products such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Lipitor, but nonetheless used a web address to discuss the importation and distribution of these counterfeit pharmaceuticals, as they allegedly placed pharmaceutical drugs originating from China in interstate commerce and delivered in Houston. Chow additionally distributed counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes.

Webb is charged with conspiracy to traffic and trafficking in counterfeit pharmaceuticals beginning in 2008 and continuing through September 2009, and Chow is charged separately for participating in the conspiracy from January 2009 to January 2010 as he was arrested on January 27 upon his arrival at John F. Kennedy Airport.

The offenses charged against both men carry a potential sentence, upon conviction, of up to 10 years in prison without parole, a $2 million and at least three years supervised release.

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