$40M asset forfeiture request for web drug dealers

Six US and Puerto Rican citizens have been charged with selling controlled substances and prescribed drugs via an Internet pharmacy, as well as money-laundering, according to a statement by the US Department of Justice. The accused are alleged to have conspired to distribute, illegally, more than 12 million painkillers and other prescribable products by the use of 246,000 fake prescriptions. One of the charges claims that minors were employed in the distribution process. The US District Court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is the location of the filing of prosecution documents, although most of the defendants are from Florida.

The distribution network operated from the www.BuyMeds.com web site and prosecutors have declared their intention of securing up to $40.0 million in forfeited assets. A court hearing is due before the end of November.