PITTSBURGH - A resident of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, and a corporation, also from Hermitage, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Emil Koledin aka Butch, and Koledin Enterprises, Inc. pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud agencies of the United States before Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Koledin operated a business out of his Hermitage home called Koledin Enterpsises, Inc., that sold various illegal drugs manufactured primarily in Russia and China though the website awakebrain.com. Koledin sold the drugs as "nootripics", which he described as "Smart drugs, memory enhancers, neuro exchangers, and intelligence enhancements." He falsely represented these drugs as legal to sell in the United States. In fact, these are drugs that were illegally imported into the United States and illegal to sell in the United States because they are not approved for sale by the Food and Drug Administration, the products do not contain the proper labeling, directions for use and warnings, and because they were manufactured in unapproved facilities. Some of the illegal drugs Koledin was selling include the following: Adrafinil, aka Noofon; Bromantane; Coluracetam; Etifoxine, aka Stresam; Noopept; Piracetam, a/k/a Nootropil; Phenylpiracetam, aka Phenotropil; Sunifiram; Theanine; and Tianetine,
Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2019. For the conspiracy charge relating to Emil Koledin, the law provides for a total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. For the charge against Koledin Enterprises, Inc., the law provides for a total sentence of a fine of $500,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Koledin and Koledin Enterprises, Inc.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
