Mauricio Sarmiento, a 35-year-old man from Ecuador, has been sentenced today by United States District Court Judge John M. Gallagher. Sarmiento will serve one year of non-reporting probation and pay a $500 fine, along with a $100 special assessment. The charges against him include introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, as announced by United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero.
Sarmiento admitted his guilt on November 20, 2024, when he pleaded guilty to a one-count information accusing him of the offense.
Since around 2022, Sarmiento, an Ecuadorian physician, has been regularly traveling to the United States to offer medical care and prescribe drugs in exchange for payment. Despite not being licensed to practice medicine or prescribe drugs in the United States, Sarmiento continued to do so. Additionally, he arranged for some of the drugs he distributed in the United States to be shipped from Ecuador.
On September 10, 2024, law enforcement apprehended Sarmiento and confiscated mislabeled drugs and medical equipment. The seized items included intravenous medications and a centrifuge that was being used for plasma therapy.
U.S. Attorney Romero emphasized that medical care and treatments in the country are subject to strict regulations to ensure the health and safety of individuals. He highlighted that Sarmiento was fully aware of the fact that he did not possess a license to practice in the United States and that the drugs he provided were misbranded. The U.S. Attorney’s office, in collaboration with the FBI, remains committed to prosecuting cases involving medical malfeasance in order to protect the public.
“The safety of our community is our top priority,” emphasized Wayne A. Jacobs, the Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. He stressed the FBI’s unwavering dedication to investigating fraud, protecting the integrity of our healthcare systems, and ensuring that those who exploit them face appropriate consequences.”
The FBI Philadelphia’s Allentown Resident Agency conducted an investigation into the case, while Assistant United States Attorney John J. Boscia is handling the prosecution.