U.S. Charges Chinese National for Selling Pill Press Used in Production of Illegal Drugs
The DOJ announced that the equipment sold by the defendant was utilized to manufacture counterfeit pills that closely imitate legitimate pharmaceutical drugs.
A Chinese national was indicted in El Paso, Texas, on Friday for purportedly selling pill press equipment used to create counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Chen was allegedly linked to a Chinese-based company that sold die molds and related equipment.
Prosecutors claimed that the pill press machines sold by Chen were employed “with molds, stamps, or dies mimicking widely prescribed controlled substances” to create counterfeit pills resembling legitimate pharmaceutical products. These counterfeit pills were contaminated with illicit substances, including fentanyl.
Additionally, Chen is accused of attempting to bypass Drug Enforcement Administration disclosure mandates by taking apart the equipment and shipping its components in separate packages into the United States, according to the DOJ.
She is also alleged to have mislabeled the packages to hide the illegal equipment they included, which consisted of counterfeit dies designed to imitate a commonly prescribed medication but were utilized to manufacture fake opioid pills.
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“The fentanyl crisis has claimed countless American lives, and this case highlights the department’s steadfast commitment to prosecuting every segment of the dangerous fentanyl supply chain,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, the head of the DOJ’s Civil Division.
“The department will persist in safeguarding Americans by taking action against those involved in the illegal sale of components and equipment that can be utilized to fabricate counterfeit pills,” Boynton added.
Illicit fentanyl is now the primary cause of death for individuals aged 18 to 49 in the United States, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2023, over 107,000 fatalities resulted from drug overdoses, according to the CDC.
Chen could face up to four years in prison along with a $250,000 fine if convicted. It remains unclear whether she has been assigned legal counsel at this time.
Catherine Yang contributed to this report.
