Fox Chapel Woman Sentenced To Probation For Smuggling Anti-Cancer Drugs Into U.S. For Sale At Stanton-Negley Pharmacy

PITTSBURGH - A Fox Chapel woman was sentenced in federal court to two years’ probation on her conviction of smuggling and unlawfully importing prescription drugs, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentenced on Robin W. Simon, 45. She was also required to pay $600,000 to the United States government. The amount represents the profits from the resale of the unlawfully imported prescription drugs. Simon paid that amount prior to sentencing.

According to information presented in court, in July of 2007 Simon unlawfully imported the anti-cancer prescription drug known as "Xeloda" from Lisbon, Portugal. Simon had purchased the Xeloda from United Drug Wholesalers, which is based in Ireland, and directed United Drug to send those drugs to her in Portugal. In September of 2008, Simon unlawfully imported Xeloda from Heathrow Healthcare, Limited, which is based in Hounslow, Great Britain. The Xeloda tablets which Simon unlawfully imported from Portugal and Great Britain had been manufactured by Roche Laboratories in New Jersey. Simon then caused those medications to be dispensed to persons who presented prescriptions for Xeloda to the Stanton-Negley Pharmacy, which is located on North Negley Avenue in Pittsburgh.

Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the U.D. Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service for conducting the investigation that led to the prosecution of Simon.