A 37-year-old Cedar Park, Texas resident named Nicole Randall has been sentenced to a year of probation for her involvement in a case related to introducing an adulterated drug into interstate commerce. The Department of Justice, District of Oregon, revealed that this case has uncovered a sophisticated scheme that included the smuggling and distribution of unapproved animal drugs. As a result of this investigation, approximately $4 million worth of property and assets were seized.
According to court documents, Randall orchestrated a scheme from February 2020 to May 2022, importing GS-441524 into the United States. This drug is not approved by the FDA for human or animal use. In a clever move, she disguised the shipments as ordinary items like facial masks, pet shampoo, and other beauty products, successfully evading detection for more than two years.
Randall and his accomplices didn’t just smuggle animals, but they also took advantage of unsuspecting pet owners by deceiving them about their pets’ health. They used fake identities and targeted the Facebook group “FIP Warriors 5.0” to falsely diagnose cats and kittens with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a severe and often deadly viral disease in cats. Exploiting the desperation of pet owners searching for a cure, they would then recommend the unapproved GS-441524.
The deception came to light when an undercover agent infiltrated the Facebook group and shared images of a perfectly healthy cat that had recently received a thorough examination from a qualified veterinarian. Shockingly, the cat was misdiagnosed with FIP, and as a result, GS-441524 was prescribed as a treatment. To facilitate the transactions, Randall made use of platforms like Paypal, Zelle, and CashApp, ensuring that there was no direct mention of the true nature of the products involved.
In July 2022, federal agents uncovered the extent of Randall’s illegal activities during a search of her Texas residence. They stumbled upon approximately 30 boxes brimming with glass vials of the tainted drug. Further investigations revealed that between July 2020 and June 2022, Randall had distributed a staggering total of 58,460 liquid vials and 236,836 pills containing GS-441524.
As part of her plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit valuable assets that were acquired through her illegal activities. These assets included four real estate properties, ten financial accounts, and a Tesla. All of these were purchased using the profits from her smuggling and sale of unapproved drugs.
The FDA conducted an investigation into the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys John C. Brassell and Katherine C. de Villiers leading the efforts in the District of Oregon. This prosecution highlights the severe repercussions of evading FDA regulations and putting public health at risk, especially in the field of veterinary medicine. The forfeiture of Randall’s assets serves as both a punishment and a strong deterrent for anyone considering engaging in similar fraudulent practices.
