FDA Investigation Defense Lawyers
The health care system is one of the most complex and densely regulated systems in existence, making it is easy to run afoul of both civil and criminal laws. Over the past several years, the Office of Criminal Investigations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been aggressively investigating physicians and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, as well as other actors in the health care industry.
FDA Harassment
FDA criminal investigations are anything but routine. The Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) has a budget of over $77 million and a number of officers who were recruited directly from the Secret Service. Physicians, and sometimes even FDA investigators themselves, have been complaining that the FDA conducts overreaching and often illegal searches and seizures along with other aggressive “cowboy tactics” designed to intimidate investigation targets. Many of these investigations do not even result in actual prosecutions. Investigations that do result in prosecutions often leave behind devastated lives and bankrupt practices.
The Regulatory Landscape
Unfortunately, some health care statutes and regulations have been drafted so strictly that the government can successfully prosecute you without even having to prove that you acted with any form of criminal intent. In addition to prison time, you might also face fines, disgorgement of profits, or loss of your professional license. Some of the most common statutes that are likely to underlie FDA criminal investigations include:
- The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
- The False Claims Act
- The Federal Anti-Tampering Act
- The Prescription Drug Marketing Act
In addition to the statutes listed above (along with many others), hundreds of thousands of detailed regulations have been authorized under these statutes. Manufacturers, distributors, importers, exporters, and health care providers (including individual physicians) are all at risk of coming under the FDA’s piercing scrutiny.
Triggers
Suspicions that commonly triggers FDA criminal investigations include:
- False statements to the FDA
- The procurement of unapproved or counterfeit medical products
- Repeated and serious violations of FDA regulations, especially where bad faith is suspected
- Promotion of “off-label” uses of pharmaceuticals and other medical products
- Fraudulent treatments
- False statements on pharmaceutical approval applications
- Fraudulent clinical trials
- Illegal manufacturing or sale of unapproved medical products
- Failure to comply with FDA-approved manufacturing processes
- Obtaining unapproved foreign-sourced drugs, such as Botox
- Accepting direct or indirect “kickbacks” for prescribing certain drugs or for performing or recommending certain other actions
- Illegal pharmaceutical compounding
Once you learn that an FDA investigation has been initiated against you, every decision matters, because every action that you take generates important consequences.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Former DA
Amanda Marshall
Former U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Joe Brown
Former U.S. Attorney
& Former District Attorney
Local Counsel
John W. Sellers
Former Senior Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Local Counsel
Linda Julin McNamara
Former Chief, DOJ Appeals
Local Counsel
Joanne Fine DeLena
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Aaron L. Wiley
Former Federal Prosecutor
Local Counsel
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Chris Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Kevin M. Sheridan
Former Special Agent (FBI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Dennis A. Wichern
Former Special Agent-in-Charge (DEA)
Fighting Back
If you have come under FDA investigation, or if you anticipate such an investigation, do not hesitate to contact The Criminal Defense Firm by calling 866-603-4540 or by contacting us online. Since we practice federal law, it doesn’t matter where you are in the United States we can effectively represent you.
Our team of former federal prosecutors, experienced criminal defense counsel, and a forensic fraud examiner deeply understands the FDA investigatory and prosecutorial landscape, and we possess the knowledge and experience to effectively pursue our singular goal: Complete dismissal of your case. Contact us immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.
Further Information About Healthcare Fraud Defense
- Healthcare Fraud
- CGX Compliance and Fraud Defense
- Compound Pharmacy Fraud
- False Billing
- False Claims & Qui Tam
- Defending Against FDA Investigation
- Health Care Fraud FAQs
- Home Health & Hospice Care Fraud
- Home Healthcare Agency Lawyer
- Hospice Fraud
- Kickbacks
- Laboratory Compliance
- Medical License Defense
- Medical Malpractice Defense
- Medicaid Fraud
- Medicare Fraud
- Nurse License Defense
- OIG Subpoenas
- Prescription Drug Fraud
- Telemedicine Medical Malpractice Defense
- Tricare Fraud
- Qlarant Investigations & Audits
- ZPIC Lawyer
Geographic Areas of FDA Defense
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