Mumbai, India, Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Shipping Misbranded Drugs to U.S. Consumers

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Mumbai, India, has been sentenced in federal court to a 33-month term of imprisonment on his conviction of mail fraud and money laundering, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence yesterday on Ramesh Buchirajam Akkela, a/k/a Ramesh Bhai, 44, of Mumbai, India.

According to information presented to the court, Ramesh Buchirajam Akkela shipped misbranded prescription drugs from India to reshippers in the United States for distribution – without prescription – to U.S. consumers. Ramesh Buchirajam Akkela was extradited from Panama to the United States to account for these crimes.

Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Brady commended the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania State Police and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Akkela.