United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that John Gentile, 59, of Arvada, Colorado, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge William K. Sessions III to two years of probation for conspiring to distribute Tramadol. Tramadol is an opioid used for pain relief and is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance under federal law.

According to court records, beginning in or about January 2020 and continuing through 2021, Gentile became involved in receiving and redistributing controlled substances and misbranded pharmaceutical drugs shipped to him by a drug supplier in India. Typically, large quantities of the substances, including Tramadol and others, were shipped from outside the United States and received by Gentile in Colorado. Gentile then redistributed smaller quantities of the substances, including Tramadol, to customers via mail. Gentile also shipped a package to a Vermont coconspirator and received electronic payments from the Vermont coconspirator as reimbursement for shipping and packaging drugs. Gentile was arrested in March 2022. At the time of his arrest, investigators seized approximately 17,500 pills from his vehicle. The pills included Tramadol and other Schedule IV controlled substances like Alprazolam (Xanax) and Zolpidem (Ambien), among others. 

U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commented, “At a time when counterfeit prescription drugs are being used to hide fentanyl from unsuspecting users, it is especially important for law enforcement to be on the look out for prescription drugs being distributed without signoff from a medical professional. The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations did excellent work to identify Gentile’s illegal receipt and redistribution of Tramadol and other controlled substances. This office looks forward to continued partnership with FDA to ensure that illegal distributors like Gentile are brought to justice.”

“Prescription drugs that are smuggled from overseas and are outside the secure supply chain can present a serious health risk to those who use them. The drugs may contain dangerous ingredients and are manufactured under unknown conditions,” said Special Agent in Charge Fernando P. McMillan, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who traffic in illegal prescription drugs.”

This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations.

Assistant United States Attorney John J. Boscia represented the government. William E. Kraham, Esq. represented Gentile.