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Harrisburg Pharmacist Indicted for Allegedly Distributing Prescription Drugs Without Valid Prescriptions

U.S. Attorney’s Office September 22, 2010
  • Middle District of Pennsylvania (717) 221-4482

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, announced today that a Pennsylvania licensed pharmacist who operated and managed a pharmacy located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of misbranded drugs, making false statements to federal agents and money laundering.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Stephen L. Marks, age 67, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was charged in a seven-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg today.

The indictment alleges that Marks was illegally distributing pain medications such as hydrocodone and stimulants such as Didrex, phendimetrazine, and phentermine. The indictment further alleges that these drugs pose a substantial risk of addiction and abuse. Marks operated and managed Pharmacy Services, Inc., located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Between June 2004, and January 2006, Marks allegedly distributed and dispensed controlled substances illegally for internet pharmacies to customers who visited websites and ordered their drug of choice, including the dosage and quantity.

It is alleged Marks distributed approximately 989,000 units of controlled substances including 577,000 pills of hydrocodone, to customers nationwide and generated sales in excess of $1 million.

“The FDA Office of Criminal Investigations is fully committed to investigating and supporting the prosecution of health care professionals who place the public health at risk for personal profit,” said Thomas P. Doyle, FDA-OCI, Metro Washington Field Office, Special Agent-in-Charge.

If convicted, Marks faces a term of imprisonment of up to 35 years and fines of more than $1,000,000.00.

 This investigation was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph J. Terz.

An Indictment or Information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Grand Jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.

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