A registered nurse is accused of running a fake Ozempic operation in Chicago, handing out injections that were labeled as the hot weight loss drug but later tested as counterfeit or misbranded, according to federal prosecutors. The alleged scheme, tied to shots given in 2023, unfolds against a nationwide scramble to track down bogus GLP 1 medications moving through informal networks and online sellers.
Prosecutors say 52 year old Sharon Charitine Sackman has been charged in federal court with distributing counterfeit drugs to three people in Chicago in 2023. A criminal complaint was filed on Dec. 5 in U.S. District Court, and she now faces one count of distributing misbranded drugs and three counts of dispensing counterfeit drugs. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to one year in federal prison. Sackman, who prosecutors say currently lives in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, was arraigned this week and entered a not guilty plea. She is scheduled to return to court for a status hearing on Feb. 3 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura K. McNally, according to CBS Chicago.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
According to the complaint, the vials Sackman provided were labeled as Ozempic but did not contain semaglutide, the active ingredient in the real drug. Prosecutors also allege the products were not made by Novo Nordisk, the company that manufactures Ozempic. The filing states that Sackman was a registered professional nurse but did not have authority to prescribe, administer, dispense or sell Ozempic, as outlined by prosecutors, according to CBS Chicago.
Why Fake Ozempic Is Such A Problem
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already been sounding the alarm that counterfeit Ozempic has entered the U.S. drug supply chain. Fake semaglutide products may contain no active ingredient, be contaminated or come with counterfeit needles, all of which raise the risk of infection and unsafe dosing. The agency urges pharmacies and patients to get Ozempic only through authorized distributors and to carefully check packaging and lot numbers before using the drug, according to the FDA.
National Crackdown And Local Pressure
This Chicago case is landing as federal prosecutors target sellers of misbranded weight loss drugs elsewhere. For instance, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan charged a Long Island woman last year with allegedly selling misbranded Ozempic and similar products on social media. Those prosecutions, along with rising reports of counterfeit shipments at ports, have helped spur local officials, including a coalition led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, to press the FDA for stronger action on unsafe GLP 1 products. That push was previously highlighted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, SDNY and in coverage of the crackdown crusade.
What To Do If You Think You Got A Fake Shot
Anyone who believes they received a counterfeit injection is urged to contact their health care provider, hold on to any packaging and lot details, and keep an eye out for signs of infection or unexpected side effects. Patients and clinicians can report suspected counterfeit drugs or bad reactions through FDA safety reporting systems, including FDA MedWatch and the agency’s online portals.
