A Virginia man has been sentenced to serve two years in federal prison for his role in distributing misbranded drugs, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced. Eric S. Cosie, 38, of Chesapeake, plead guilty earlier this year to charges of introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. According to U.S. Attorney's Office, Cosie operated an illegal online business, HCGRX, that sold misbranded hormone and erectile dysfunction drugs across state lines.
The scheme, which spanned from approximately September 2017 through February 2020, involved Cosie and accomplices improperly acquiring drugs from overseas suppliers, then subsequently relabeling the products in Jacksonville, Florida. It is reported that Cosie was able to quickly learn how to circumnavigate regulatory safeguards, quickly selling and shipping the drugs along with syringes directly to customers.
Law enforcement officers, after executing a search warrant at Cosie's Jacksonville residence, found numerous vials containing HCG, boxes of misbranded erectile dysfunction drugs, and other related items. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the profit from this illegal operation amounted to approximately $626,000.
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the FDA - Office of Criminal Investigation, along with substantial support from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office – Pharmaceutical Diversion & Designer Drug Unit – North Florida HIDTA, and the Virginia State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Mesrobian prosecuted the case, ensuring that Cosie faced consequences for his actions to potentially put the public's health at grave risk.
