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Press Release

Importer pays civil penalty to settle alleged Controlled Substances Act violations

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia

ATLANTA – ACETO Corporation, an international company with a North American headquarters based in New York, has agreed to pay a civil settlement of $120,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).  ACETO imports controlled substances to a warehouse in Atlanta and has agreed to additional oversight from the Drug Enforcement Agency.

“Importers have a responsibility to ensure that all controlled substances can be tracked through the distribution chain,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Our office is committed to preventing the diversion of controlled substances by enforcing the recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act.”

Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the DEA said, “The mission of DEA’s Office of Diversion Control is to prevent, detect and investigate the diversion of controlled pharmaceutical and listed chemicals from legitimate sources. In this case, DEA Diversion investigators did an outstanding job of uncovering this importer’s negligence to conduct proper inventories, which led to a civil fine. DEA will continue to work hand in hand with its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to make sure that Importers are abiding by its regulations.”

The government alleges that ACETO failed to maintain complete and accurate records of all controlled substances, failed to maintain controlled substances records at its registered location, and failed to complete the required biennial inventory of controlled substances. The claims settled are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

The CSA was enacted by Congress to deter the illegal importation, manufacture, distribution, possession, and improper use of controlled substances, including prescription medications, and requires individuals and entities registered with the DEA to maintain complete and accurate records of all controlled substances and security systems so that no controlled substances are lost, stolen, or inappropriately dispensed. Violations of the recordkeeping requirements subject DEA registrants to civil monetary penalties of up to $14,502 for each violation.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The civil settlement was reached by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Amanti.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

 

ACETO Settlement Agreement

Updated August 28, 2018

Topic
Prescription Drugs