Local pharmacy faces federal charges for drug fraud

Med-Fast Pharmacy in Aliquippa is still in business, but Monday brought some serious charges about how business was being done there.

According to federal documents, from 2009-13, vice president of store operations Gino Cordisco was recycling unused drugs.

U.S. attorneys say the conspiracy was to collect unused drugs from nursing homes, unpack them, restock them and then use them to fill prescriptions, some for patients at nursing homes. The complaint alleges the drugs were misbranded and mixed together with different brands and expiration dates.

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“Those patients are helpless in those places,” said an area resident. “They need the medicine, not people recycling it.”

People like this woman live in the area and want to know how Med-Fast fixed the problems. 
Channel 11 reached out to get that answer.

Medfast sent 11 at 11 a statement saying, in part, "… Med-Fast's long-term care pharmacy learned of issues with the way some of its medications were being labeled. These concerns were rectified and the individuals primarily responsible for this conduct are no longer with the company …"

While the charges are still pending, this woman says the allegations are concerning.

“No, I'm not surprised here. I think it's terrible,” said the resident.

The company faces a $500,000 fine and Cordisco faces up to five years in prison as well as a fine.

Cox Media Group