Former director at Mass. pharmacy in deadly meningitis outbreak sentenced to prison
The former director of a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy at the center of a nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak that resulted in more than 100 patient deaths has been sentenced to five months in prison for conspiring to defraud the FDA.
New England Compounding Center Director of Operations Sharon Carter conspired with her colleagues to evade FDA oversight through fraud and misrepresentation, according to the Department of Justice. Carter and her co-conspirators are alleged to have shipped drugs to customers without patient-specific prescriptions and even created fraudulent prescriptions for food regulators.
Over 750 patients in 20 states were sickened by fungal meningitis or other illnesses and another 100 victims died after receiving the drugs crafted in the Framingham-based pharmaceutical center. A criminal investigation revealed that the NECC pharmacists assembled the drugs in unsanitary and unsafe conditions.
“Our thoughts are with them as Ms. Carter is finally held responsible for her role in one of the worst public health crises in U.S. history,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “While she now heads to prison, rest assured the FBI, and our law enforcement partners will continue to work to bring others who like her, violate the law and put patients at risk to justice.”
“One may think that making misrepresentations or lying to federal regulators is a victimless crime. This case proves otherwise. In her role as Director of Operations, Ms. Carter conspired to deceive regulators into treating NECC as a lawfully operating pharmacy,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “The victims in this case – all trusting, innocent people – were simply seeking pain relief. Instead, those who survived were sentenced to a lifetime of anguish and trauma. This sentence speaks to my office’s ongoing commitment to the safety and protection of our residents in all areas of life and ensuring those who seek to do harm are held accountable.”
As Director of Operations, Carter oversaw the processing and confirmation of drug orders received by NECC.
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