Former Hooksett Woman Sentenced For Illegally Importing "Brazilian Diet Pills"

CONCORD, N.H. – Elisane Garcia, 32, formerly of Hooksett, New Hampshire, was sentenced in United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire to approximately ten (10) months (time served) and 2 years of supervised release for illegally importing “Brazilian diet pills” into the United States, announced United States Attorney John P. Kacavas.

Investigators intercepted thousands of pills, known as “Brazilian diet pills,” which contained fluoxetine and chlordiazepoxide (Schedule IV controlled substances), the same active ingredients as Prozac and Librium, as well as fenproporex, a drug not approved for marketing in the U.S., intended for delivery to the defendant from Brazilian suppliers.  The defendant used wire transfers to send at least $44,930 to those Brazilian suppliers.  The IRS seized and forfeited approximately $35,000 from the defendant’s bank accounts.

Garcia previously pled guilty to smuggling goods into the United States, introduction into interstate commerce of misbranded drugs, possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute and money laundering.  She has been detained since her arrest and will be deported to Brazil after completion of her sentence.

            The case was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the New Hampshire State Police and INTERPOL.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Clyde Garrigan and Shannon Singleton, an attorney for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire.