Melissa Bandy, 54, of Richlands, Virginia, pleaded guilty to federal charges for receiving and distributing prescription drugs and other medications not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Despite not being a licensed healthcare provider, Bandy obtained these drugs through black market websites and resold them to unsuspecting individuals.
“When the public buys an FDA-approved drug, they are purchasing a drug that has been vetted for safe consumption in line with its intended purpose,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “When individuals skirt these safeguards in order to enrich themselves, they put the health and safety of others at risk. I am grateful to the FDA for their work on this important matter and their continued relationship with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia.”
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“Unlicensed individuals who sell unapproved and misbranded ‘Botox-like’ products and other prescription drugs put their unsuspecting customers at risk because FDA has not found these products to be safe and effective for their intended uses and they cannot be safely administered without the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner,” said George Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metropolitan Washington Field Office. “We are fully committed to bringing to justice those who subvert FDA’s requirements and place consumers at risk of serious harm. Our valued partnership with the Virginia State Police and the forethought of the Richlands Police Department for channeling this matter to FDA-OCI were integral to our efforts in safeguarding the public health and safety in this case.”
Bandy’s sentencing is scheduled for October 1, 2024, at the United States Courthouse in Abingdon. The case was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Virginia State Police, and the Richlands Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone leading the prosecution.
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