Pennsylvania man sentenced to 33 months in prison for smuggling counterfeit pharmaceuticals

PHILADELPHIA — Following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a Pennsylvania man was sentenced to 33 months in prison for mail fraud and smuggling counterfeit pharmaceuticals, including Cialis and Viagra tablets.

Randy Hucks, 52, of Philadelphia, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to 33 months in prison. In June 2012 Hucks was found guilty in a jury trial.

"HSI will use all of its investigative resources to bring Intellectual Property theft violators to justice," said John P. Kelleghan, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. "This case clearly demonstrates that counterfeit products can be harmful to users, jeopardize public health and safety and cause immeasurable harm to American companies."

Court documents from the HSI investigation revealed that Hucks rented several mail boxes at the U.S. Postal Facility at 5209 Greene Street in Philadelphia on behalf of businesses that he allegedly owned under such names as Bargain Basket Inc., Fashionista, Inc. and Fashionista Emporium Inc. As part of the scheme, Hucks illegally imported 10,188 counterfeit Viagra tablets and 3,040 counterfeit Cialis from factories in China.

This investigation was conducted by HSI with assistance from the HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center). The IPR Center is one of the U.S. government's key weapons in the fight against counterfeiting, piracy, and commercial trade fraud. Working in close coordination with the Department of Justice Task Force on Intellectual Property, the IPR Center uses the expertise of its 21-member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions and conduct investigations related to intellectual property theft. Through this strategic interagency partnership, the IPR Center protects the public's health and safety, the U.S. economy and the war fighters.