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Man faces up to three years in prison and a six-figure fine after selling $2 million worth of unapproved bodybuilding drugs from 2010-15.<br />
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A Florida man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly selling more than $2 million worth of misbranded drugs to stores in Prince George’s County and Columbia, authorities say.<br />
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Gavin Burns Smith of New Port Richey, Florida, was indicted May 20 for an intent to defraud by selling the drugs to locations throughout the state of Maryland, according to a media release out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.<br />
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Smith was reportedly caught after selling the misbranded drugs to an undercover officer. He then reportedly shipped those drugs to various locations in Laurel, Columbia and Beltsville, Maryland on seven occasions from November 21, 2011 to March 12, 2015.<br />
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Smith now faces up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine, according to the release. He’s scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Jillyn K. Schulze in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on June 30.<br />
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Smith owned and operated Precision Peptides in Lutz, Florida, from 2010 until April of 2012. In 2012, he reportedly owned and operated DNA Peptides in New Port Richey, Florida from 2012 to 2015.<br />
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It was reported in the release that both companies “sold body-enhancing injectable drugs to individuals seeking to enhance their physiques.”<br />
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However, the drugs Smith sold were not approved by the FDA for human consumption.<br />
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According to the release, on August 22, 2012, law enforcement executed federal search warrants on both businesses, but sometime between that date and 2015 Smith began to operate DNA Peptides out of his residence.<br />
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Listed among the drugs Smith allegedly sold were Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2, Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-6, Melanotan II, Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone, Ipamorelin, Human Growth Hormone Fragment, Mechano Growth Factor, and Dehydroepiandrosterone. None of those substances has FDA approval for human consumption.<br />
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Smith reportedly aimed to evade the illegality of his business practices by placing disclaimers on his businesses’ websites stating the products were for research use. He also had clients certify they read the disclaimer upon purchasing the body-sculpting drugs. Still, it was stated in the release that Smith was alleged to have intended for his products to be consumed and used for bodybuilding purposes.<br />
<br />
The indictment reportedly seeks forfeiture of more than $2 million, equaling the value of the misbranded drugs in question.<br />
<br />
<br />
A Florida man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly selling more than $2 million worth of misbranded drugs to stores in Prince George’s County and Columbia, authorities say.<br />
<br />
Gavin Burns Smith of New Port Richey, Florida, was indicted May 20 for an intent to defraud by selling the drugs to locations throughout the state of Maryland, according to a media release out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.<br />
<br />
Smith was reportedly caught after selling the misbranded drugs to an undercover officer. He then reportedly shipped those drugs to various locations in Laurel, Columbia and Beltsville, Maryland on seven occasions from November 21, 2011 to March 12, 2015.<br />
<br />
Smith now faces up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine, according to the release. He’s scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Jillyn K. Schulze in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on June 30.<br />
<br />
Smith owned and operated Precision Peptides in Lutz, Florida, from 2010 until April of 2012. In 2012, he reportedly owned and operated DNA Peptides in New Port Richey, Florida from 2012 to 2015.<br />
<br />
It was reported in the release that both companies “sold body-enhancing injectable drugs to individuals seeking to enhance their physiques.”<br />
<br />
However, the drugs Smith sold were not approved by the FDA for human consumption.<br />
<br />
According to the release, on August 22, 2012, law enforcement executed federal search warrants on both businesses, but sometime between that date and 2015 Smith began to operate DNA Peptides out of his residence.<br />
<br />
Listed among the drugs Smith allegedly sold were Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2, Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-6, Melanotan II, Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone, Ipamorelin, Human Growth Hormone Fragment, Mechano Growth Factor, and Dehydroepiandrosterone. None of those substances has FDA approval for human consumption.<br />
<br />
Smith reportedly aimed to evade the illegality of his business practices by placing disclaimers on his businesses’ websites stating the products were for research use. He also had clients certify they read the disclaimer upon purchasing the body-sculpting drugs. Still, it was stated in the release that Smith was alleged to have intended for his products to be consumed and used for bodybuilding purposes.<br />
<br />
The indictment reportedly seeks forfeiture of more than $2 million, equaling the value of the misbranded drugs in question.<br />
<br />
