Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Importing Prescription Drugs from India

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy to import prescription drugs, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Manuel Martin Pena, 64, of Houston, TX pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in and around June 2012, to in and around December 2014, Pena conspired to misbrand, smuggle, and import drugs that were exported from India and received in the U.S. by Pena and another co-conspirator.

Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for March 21, 2017, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, the Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pena.