Zicam Inventor to Plead Guilty

Zicam inventor and Redondo Beach resident Charles B. Hensley will plead guilty to marketing an unapproved drug as a cure for the H5N1 virus, or bird flu, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

Hensley, , was indicted May 20 on 12 counts related to his sale of Vira 38—four misdemeanor counts of introducing an unapproved new drug into interstate commerce, four misdemeanor counts of introduction of a misbranded drug into interstate commerce and four felony counts of illegally importing an unapproved drug into the United States.

If convicted on all 12 counts, Hensley could face up to 28 years in prison.

As part of the plea agreement with prosecutors, Hensley will plead guilty to one charge, and the rest of the charges will be dropped, according to the Times. He is scheduled to appear in federal court to enter his plea Aug. 8.

Hensley is free on a $5,000 bond.