Covetrus Sentenced for Criminal Misbranding of Prescription Drugs

Press Release

Ohio-based Company Will Pay More Than $23 Million in Fines and Forfeiture

ABINGDON, Va. - Covetrus North America LLC, a company based in Dublin, Ohio, which sells veterinary products to customers across the United States, was sentenced yesterday to one-year of probation for causing the introduction and delivery of misbranded veterinary prescription drugs into interstate commerce.

In addition, the court ordered Covetrus to pay over $23 million in criminal fines and forfeitures.

Covetrus will forfeit $21,534,091, pay $1,000,000 to the Virginia Department of Health Professions, as well as a fine of $1,000,000. In addition, Covetrus is obligated to keep in place appropriate compliance measures to prevent future violations.

According to court documents, from March 2019 to December 2021, Covetrus shipped over $20 million in prescription drugs from their non-pharmacy locations throughout the United States to end-users that were not authorized to receive prescription drugs. Shipments from non-pharmacy locations to non-authorized end-users or locations are deemed "misbranded."

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Special Agent in Charge George Scavdis, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations - Metro Washington Field Office made the announcement.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations and the Virginia State Police investigated the case, with the assistance of the Virginia Department of Health Professions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case.

Updated May 9, 2024