An Orlando physician has entered a guilty plea for engaging in the illegal act of injecting patients with silicone oil for cosmetic enhancement, a procedure not sanctioned by the FDA. Dr. Nhan Pham, 54, is facing a potential three years behind bars after his admission in federal court to distributing an adulterated device, infringing upon the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The sentencing date is on the horizon, marked for August 14, as revealed by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe's office.
From 2015 through 2019, Pham embarked on a surreptitious purchase of silicone oil over the internet, leading to a series of injections carried out at both his office and his home—procedures intended for gluteal enhancements among his patients. Meanwhile, the FDA has been vocal and clear: injectable silicone for body contouring gains no approval, the health ramifications are dire, and public warnings have proliferated. Despite this, Pham assured his patients that what he was administering was "safe," "natural," and ephemeral—claims that stand in stark contradistinction to the ensuing bouts of pain, inflammation, and other adverse side effects, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, on September 24, 2019, Pham offered these hazardous injections to an undercover agent, an error which contributed to his eventual plea. According to the plea agreement, this act contributed to the charges against him. The investigating bodies of this case include the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, with additional support from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu is at the forefront of prosecuting the case.
