Tessa M. Gorman, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington
Two brothers from India, Avanish Kumar Jha and Rajnish Kumar Jha, appeared in a Seattle court today following their indictment in 2022 for selling counterfeit and adulterated drugs in the United States. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced that the brothers were arrested in Singapore on April 20, 2023, at the request of the United States. A Singaporean judge approved their extradition to face 28 felony charges, with their surrender ordered on February 24, 2025. Both pleaded not guilty, and their trial is set for May 5, 2025.
"The defendants in this case allegedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars while defrauding people who were clinging to hope that a late-stage cancer medication could save their life," said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. "This fraud scheme didn’t just steal money; it stole the prospect of more time with loved ones for those battling cancer."
The investigation began in 2019 when evidence suggested that the Jha brothers and their company, Dhrishti Pharma International, were selling prescription drugs online to buyers worldwide. Undercover agents from the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) and ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) engaged with them and ordered products labeled as "Keytruda," a Merck drug for late-stage cancer. The analysis showed these were counterfeit and lacked active ingredients.
The brothers allegedly shipped these counterfeit drugs from India using various payment methods like wire transfers and direct exchanges while employing intermediaries within the U.S. to collect cash payments. Their packaging techniques aimed to evade detection by customs or regulators.
"This case highlights ICE HSI’s commitment to protecting the public from dangerous and fraudulent practices that put vulnerable individuals at risk," stated acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy of ICE HSI Seattle.
The investigation was conducted by FDA's OCI and ICE HSI. Assistant United States Attorney Philip Kopczynski is prosecuting the case with assistance from international law enforcement partners including those at the U.S Embassy in Singapore.
