Acting U.S. Attorney Soo C. Song announced Friday a resident of India appeared in court to face charges of conspiracy to misbrand and smuggle drugs, mail fraud, money laundering and import Schedule IV controlled substances into the United States.
Forty-four-year-old Ramesh Buchirajam Akkela, aka “Ramesh Bhai,” 44, of Mumbai was arrested in Panama earlier this year and extradited to the U.S. Thursday, according to a 14-count indictment.
Akkela operated an online website that offered prescription drugs, without a prescription, to American consumers. Akkela was indicted on two counts of money laundering, 10 counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to import Schedule IV controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to misbrand and smuggle drugs.
Each count, except the conspiracy counts, carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence. Each count, except money laundering which carries a maximum $500,000 find, carries a maximum find of $250,000.