Feds Bust Alleged Online Drug Business
Two Arrests Made In South Florida
Vineet K. Chhabra, 32, of Golden Beach was indicted as an owner, operator and officer of businesses that operated Web sites through which defendants distributed controlled substances. Chhabra's attorney, Sean Ellsworth, said his client did nothing wrong."His entire business operation has been done completely in the open. There's been no secrets. He's been -- he's advised everyone of what he's doing. He's maintained his complete innocence," he said.Chhabra's sister, Sabina S. Faruqui, 30, Weston, was indicted as an officer, manager and operator of businesses that operated the Web sites and laundered the proceeds of the drug distribution.Wednesday morning, Miami-Dade police shut down A1A near the Miami-Dade-Broward County line and moved in on a large home located on Golden Beach. The home was surrounded with crime tape and police told Channel 10 that it was part of an "FBI investigation."Chhabra and Faruqui were reportedly arrested at the home on Ocean Drive in Golden Beach.Others arrested include:Daniel L. Thompson, 48, of Columbus, OhioSunil K. Sethi, 48, of Midlothian, Va.
James A. Trovato, Jr., 38, of Independence, Ohio
Daniel M. Varalli, 54, of Salem, Va.
William D. Thompson, 44, of St. Charles, Mo.
Laurence L. Cockerille, Jr., 71, of Litchfield, Ohio
Arturo L. Portales, 44, of Lexington, Ky.
Russell A. Johnson, 50, of Chester, Va.
Four of those arrested were licensed physicians.Chhabra, Faruqui and their uncle Sunil Sethi also face additional money laundering charges.Chhabra, Faruqui, Sethi, Portales and Johnson, are accused of using interstate commerce to market misbranded, mislabeled prescription drugs, including: Bontril, Ionamin, Phentermine, Adipex, and Meridia, all weight loss drugs, and Viagra.The drugs were allegedly distributed worldwide through Web sites and other online promotions without purchasers ever seeing a doctor.Chhabra and Faruqui have been under investigation since 1999 when they were accused of running a similar operation in Ohio.If convicted, the defendants face sentences of at least 20 years and the forfeiture of a total of $125,000,000 in alleged profits.






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