Churchill Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Drug Samples

PITTSBURGH - An Allegheny County resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of unlawfully selling drug samples, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Lawrence A. Swanson, 54, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Swanson, from in and around January 2005, to in and around May 2011, knowingly and unlawfully sold drug samples, specifically, samples of Allegra, Avalide, Avapro, Avelox, Benicar, Celebrex, Crestor, Cymbalta, Diovan, Diovan HCT, Evista, Janumet, Januvia, Lexapro, Lovaza, Lyrica, Micardis HCT, Namenda, Nexium, Plavix, Prevacid, Prilosec, Seroquel XR, Singular, TriCor, Vytorin, Zetia, Zyprexa, Benicar, Lipitor, and Pristi Q, prescription drugs.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for Jan. 31, 2014. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Lawrence A. Swanson.