Florida man arrested for allegedly distributing over $230 million of adulterated HIV medication

MIAMI — A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly distributing over $230 million of adulterated HIV medication throughout the country, according to the United States Department of Justice.

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The United States Department of Justice in a news release said Lazaro Hernandez, 51, was arrested Friday for allegedly being a part of a nationwide scheme that illegally distributed over $230 million in misbranded and adulterated prescription medication to unsuspecting patients which defrauded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

WTVJ said Hernandez allegedly got large amounts of HIV medications illegally and created false drug labels and other fake documentation. He was allegedly distributing the drugs at established licensed wholesale drug distribution companies in Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey and New York with huge discounts. The drugs, WTVJ said, ended up at pharmacies all over the country.

From 2019 to 2021, Hernandez and his co-conspirators were paid over $230 million. Hernandez allegedly laundered the money through several corporations, according to the DOJ.

Hernandez has been booked on recommended charges of conspiracy to deliver into interstate commerce adulterated and misbranded drugs, conspiracy to traffic in medical products with false documentation, conspiracy to commit money laundering and specific money longer offenses, according to the DOJ. He faces over 100 years in prison if convicted.

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