CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Cole Leggett, 52, of Clearwater, Florida pled guilty in federal court today to distributing performance enhancing drugs, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.
Leggett was an employee of Freedom Pharma, a company that was a manufacturer and distributor of various unapproved prescription drugs to customers throughout the United States, including the Northern District of West Virginia. Freedom Pharma was not registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration as a drug manufacturer. The performance enhancing drugs were misbranded and introduced into interstate commerce.
“When criminals introduce misbranded drugs into the marketplace, they expose U.S. consumers to risk," said Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ Metro Washington Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who would jeopardize the health of the U.S. public."
Bagwell faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod J. Douglas prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Food and Drug Administration investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
