Company President Pleads Guilty to Importing Fake Diabetic Test Strips
PHILADELPHIA - Jacques Duplessis, 61, of Boynton Beach, FL, pleaded guilty today to engaging in a scheme to sell approximately 6,000 boxes of counterfeit LifeScan One Touch diabetic test strips that he purchased from suppliers in China and England, announced U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger. Duplessis pleaded guilty to a two count information charging him with introducing into interstate commerce misbranded medical devices and entry of goods into the United States by means of false statements. Duplessis was the president and sole shareholder of both America's Premier Supplier Corp. and Royal Global Wholesale Corp., which were Florida-based corporations. Duplessis engaged in a scheme to sell approximately 6,000 boxes of counterfeit LifeScan One Touch diabetic test strips that he purchased from suppliers in China and England to wholesale customers in the United States and Canada, who, in turn, sold those counterfeit products to purchasers in pharmacies and other stores throughout the United States, including in the Philadelphia area. According to the information, LifeScan, Inc. (LifeScan), a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (J&J), is the distributor of One Touch blood glucose test strips. Lifescan and J&J have registered federal trademarks for diabetic test strips including Lifescan, OneTouch, OneTouch Basic, and OneTouch Ultra.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 16, 2012. Duplessis faces up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $350,000 and a $125 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Rue.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525
