Two Louisiana Men Sentenced for Roles in On-line Pharmacy Scheme

PITTSBURGH – Two Louisiana residents have been sentenced in federal court to three years of probation, a forfeiture of $433,833.00 and $2,000 fine on their convictions of fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Anthony Rouse III, 40, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, and Troy Tapia, 46, of Morgan City, Louisiana.

According to the information presented to the court, the court was informed that Anthony Rouse III and Troy Tapia fulfilled US orders from Duangthip Chutivaraporn who operated a series of online pharmacy web sites that offered a wide variety of prescription drugs for sale to United States customers without the need of a prescription or a medical history. There was no physician monitoring drugs used by the customers or requirement of any diagnosis in order to purchase or receive these prescription drugs. The site defrauded customers with false representations as to the legality of obtaining prescription drugs without a prescription. Rouse and Tapia fulfilled orders for Nubain and Fioricet and received payment for their services by means of deposits of their portion of the sale proceeds to foreign bank accounts accessible to them by debit cards.

Assistant United States Attorney Paul E. Hull prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Song commended the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; the U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; for the investigation leading to a successful prosecution.