Lipitor Importer Pleads Guilty in Kansas City Federal Court

By William Murphy

Published on August 31, 2006

Appearing before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Hays, Nassar admitted to being part of a scheme to import and distribute Lipitor that was intended for sale in South America. In addition, he conceded his participation in a conspiracy to purchase, sell, and distribute stolen drugs from December 2001 to April 2003.

Nassar is one of 11 conspirators who, along with three businesses connected to the pharmaceutical industry, were indicted December 14, 2005, by a Kansas City federal grand jury on charges they conspired to import and sell genuine Lipitor intended for South American markets and counterfeit Lipitor manufactured in Costa Rica.

Nassar could be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole and be fined as much as $500,000. A sentencing hearing will be held after the US Probation Office completes its pre-sentencing investigation.

Lipitor is a cholesterol-reducing drug is manufactured by Pfizer that has revenues of more than $12 billion annually, making it the world’s top-selling drug.

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