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Published on January 19, 2025
Columbia County Woman Imprisoned for Wire Fraud and Illegal Animal Drug Sales in OregonSource: Unsplash/Umanoide

A Columbia County woman has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a wire fraud conspiracy and the illegal dispensing of animal drugs, as per a recent press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon. The woman, identified as 55-year-old Samantha Miller, was additionally given three years of supervised release, and the amount of restitution she must pay will be determined at a subsequent date.

Miller, who conducted her business through Woofin Palooza, LLC, engaged in a scheme which saw her falsely advertise and sell animals with undisclosed health and behavioral problems to unwitting customers. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon, through a statement, underscored the impact of Miller's crimes, indicating that her actions not only defrauded customers but also circumvented the regulations intended to safeguard public health through the sale of prescription animal drugs without proper veterinary oversight.

The investigation, as described by court documents, revealed that between November 2019 to January 2021, Miller and her co-conspirators would acquire animals from out-of-state shelters, which often had undisclosed or untreated medical and behavioral issues. These animals were then offered for adoption at a price to customers in Oregon. Critical care required by the animals, if provided at all, was done without the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

Under the alias "Mandy Myers," Miller manipulated the narrative surrounding the animals' health, and in several cases, she dispensed prescription animal drugs that she had repackaged with false or misleading labels and without a veterinarian's order. According to a press release by authorities, victims were left to deal with the aftermath, often facing high costs for veterinary care or, tragically, euthanasia due to the animals' undisclosed conditions.

Miller's sentencing comes after a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Portland on February 7, 2024, which charged her with four counts including wire fraud and misbranding drugs. She pleaded guilty on October 24, 2024, to conspiring to commit wire fraud and the misbranding of drugs. The case was brought to a close thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Trisotto and Meredith D.M. Bateman prosecuting the case.