Foreign national charged with selling counterfeit drugs

HOUSTON - An Indian national is set to appear for his detention hearing on charges related to his alleged sale and shipment of counterfeit cancer pharmaceuticals into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Authorities arrested Sanjay Kumar, 43, Bihar, India, June 26. He is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 10 a.m.

According to the complaint, Kumar arranged to have shipped counterfeit versions of Keytruda, an oncology pharmaceutical Merck and Co. manufactures, to individuals in the United States on several occasions. He also allegedly did the same with counterfeit versions of other oncology pharmaceuticals.

Kumar is charged with conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods (drugs). If convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison as well as a possible $1 million fine.

Homeland Security Investigations and Food and Drug Administrations conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Jeff Pearlman and Bryce Rosenbower of the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.