Michigan Man Faces 20 Years, Accused of Selling Counterfeit Drugs on Dark Web

A Michigan man could be looking at 20 years in the slammer after feds cuffed him for allegedly pushing counterfeit Xanax and other drugs on the dark web, according to reports. Erik Miller, 47, of Sturgis, was hit with a litany of charges, including selling fake meds and conspiracy to distribute Xanax and MDMA, as first reported by CBS News Detroit.

"Popping a fake pill is a game of Russian Roulette," U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said, as per the U.S. Department of Justice. The indictment claims that the Michigan man was in cahoots with an elusive dark web vendor to flood the streets with illegal narcotics and faux prescription drugs, passing off as legit Pharmacia & Upjohn, Co. products, a subsidiary of Pfizer.

Officials warn that these bogus pills, often indistinguishable from the real deal, could be a fatal mix of ineffective or incorrect dosages, or worse – laced with deadly fentanyl or methamphetamine. DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene knocked down any notion that the dark web is a haven for drug pushers. "Drug dealers think they can hide behind a computer keyboard and anonymously distribute drugs, and that is not the case," Greene said, per the U.S. Department of Justice.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Rodney Hopkins chimed in, vowing to dismantle networks like the Miller's, who exploit the U.S. Mail for drug trafficking. The fake Xanax saga is a glaring reminder of the risks lurking in shadowy corners of the internet where identities are masked and dealings go on under the radar. But as the feds have shown, the net cast to snare those selling deadly counterfeits is far-reaching.

Miller is staring down at a barrel of a $1,000,000 fine on top of potential prison time if convicted of the drug trafficking charges. He also faces significant fines and up to 15 years for a gun charge, as the indictment threw multiple counts his way. It's a stony path for Miller from hereon unless he can prove his innocence in court – a burden the government shoulders to show beyond a reasonable doubt.