An Indian national received a 43-month federal prison sentence for orchestrating a scheme to sell counterfeit cancer medication to undercover law enforcement agents, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Sanjay Kumar, 45, was sentenced in federal court and will serve one year of supervised release following his prison term, according to court documents. Kumar pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods.

Between August 2018 and June 2024, Kumar and co-conspirators arranged sales of fake Keytruda, a prescription cancer treatment, to undercover agents, according to court records. The counterfeit medication bore fraudulent marks and was chemically inconsistent with genuine Keytruda, lacking the active ingredient necessary for medical effectiveness.

Keytruda serves as a cancer immunotherapy treatment approved in the United States for multiple conditions, including melanomas, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, gastric cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer, according to federal authorities. Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC holds exclusive manufacturing rights for the drug.

Kumar and his associates collected approximately $89,268 from their sales of purported Keytruda to undercover investigators, according to court documents.

Prior to his arrest in Houston, Kumar attempted to arrange additional shipments of the counterfeit drug into the United States during in-person meetings with undercover law enforcement agents, according to federal prosecutors. During these meetings, Kumar acknowledged the dangers posed by counterfeit pharmaceuticals, explaining that fake Keytruda would not treat cancer effectively and was “just like water,” according to court records.

The case highlights ongoing federal efforts to combat pharmaceutical counterfeiting, which poses significant risks to patient safety. Counterfeit medications can contain harmful substances, incorrect dosages, or lack active ingredients entirely, potentially endangering patients who depend on legitimate treatments for serious medical conditions.

Homeland Security Investigations Houston led the investigation with assistance from the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, according to federal authorities. The case was prosecuted by trial attorneys from the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas, HSI Houston acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Burke, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Lamb of the FDA’s Kansas City Field Office announced the sentencing.

The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, which handled prosecution, investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property crimes in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies. Since 2020, the section has secured convictions of over 180 cybercriminals and intellectual property criminals, and obtained court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds, according to federal data.

The case underscores federal authorities’ commitment to protecting the pharmaceutical supply chain and ensuring patients receive legitimate medications. Counterfeit drug schemes particularly target expensive specialty medications like cancer treatments, exploiting vulnerable patients seeking life-saving therapies.

Kumar’s sentencing serves as a warning to others involved in pharmaceutical counterfeiting operations. Federal authorities continue investigating similar schemes that threaten public health and undermine confidence in legitimate medical treatments.

The investigation demonstrates coordination between multiple federal agencies working to identify and prosecute those who endanger patient safety through counterfeit medication schemes. Such operations often involve complex international networks that require sustained law enforcement efforts to dismantle effectively.