2 Charged After Misbranded Erectile Dysfunction Drug Probe: Feds

EAST GREENWICH, RI — An investigation of the introduction of a misbranded erectile dysfunction drug imported from India and distributed in Rhode Island led to charges against an East Greenwich resident and a second man, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Court documents reflect that Jitender Behl, 74, "imported hundreds of thousands of pills from India that contained the pharmaceutical ingredient sildenafil citrate," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a media release.

"Sildenafil is an active ingredient in FDA-approved prescription drugs prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction," the release said.

"Behl allegedly repackaged the pills, marketed them as being an all-natural dietary supplement for erectile dysfunction under the brand names of “JMY” which stands for 'Just Me & You,' and distributed them to a wholesale distributor, Noor Inc., in Providence," the release said. "To date, law enforcement has seized more than 130,000 imported sildenafil pills and tablets, more than 650 grams of imported sildenafil soft gel capsules, and approximately 21,700 empty Mylar bags allegedly used for packaging the illicit product."

Noor sold JMY to retail outlets in the Northeast, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, according to the release, and undercover agents with the Food and Drug Administration purchased packages from the stores.

"JMY’s list of ingredients did not include the active pharmaceutical ingredient sildenafil and instead listed purported ingredients such as 'White Willow Bark' and 'Korean Ginseng,' among others," the release said.

"The FDA notes that sildenafil can be particularly harmful to persons taking heart medications containing nitrates because the active ingredients can interact with the nitrates and lower blood pressure to dangerous levels," according to the release.

Behl was charged with the receipt in interstate commerce of misbranded drugs and introducing misbranded drugs, the release said.

The owner of Noor Inc., Mahr Ahmed, 58, of Attleboro, Massachusetts, was charged with the introduction of misbranded drugs, the release said, and "court documents reflect Ahmed has agreed to plead guilty."

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