HIV Drug Scheme Leads to Four Arrests

Patients at MOMS Pharmacy shops in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island unknowingly received black-market HIV drugs, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday in an indictment brought before the state Supreme Court in Suffolk County. From 2008 to 2012, four men allegedly conspired to sell stolen, expired or mislabeled HIV drugs at three MOMS Pharmacy locations.

On its website, the small chain says it is “committed to providing the best HIV/AIDS pharmacy care.” Authorities say no patients were harmed, but they were possibly endangered as some of the drugs were of unknown origin and potency.

Three pharmacists, including MOMS’ supervising pharmacist and compliance officer, and a businessman moved more than $274 million in black-market HIV drugs during the scheme, Schneiderman said. Approximately $155 million of that was billed to Medicaid, he noted.

Anthony D. Luna, the drug chain’s president, said in a statement, “MOMS Pharmacy was a victim of this crime and will continue to cooperate fully with the New York state authorities.”

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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