Former Connecticut Resident Guilty of Operating Websites to Illegally Sell Misbranded and Unapproved Drugs
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that on September 18, 2026, a federal jury in New Haven found RYAN FIELDS, 52, of Port Neches, Texas, guilty of federal offenses related to illegally selling misbranded and unapproved prescription drugs.
According to the evidence introduced during the trial and other court proceedings, from September 2021 to June 2023, Fields and Lisa Mahan, who formerly resided in Glastonbury, Connecticut, operated two websites, pinnedaminos.com and projectaminos.com, as well as a private Facebook group called Pinned Aminos, through which they illegally sold and distributed to customers throughout the U.S. misbranded prescription drugs. They did not require customers to provide a valid prescription, and some of the drugs they sold and distributed were unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human consumption. The drugs they sold also included drugs they illegally imported from foreign manufacturers.
To avoid detection and mislead the FDA, the pinnedaminos.com website had a disclaimer that falsely stated that the products for sale were “intended for laboratory and research use only,” and “not intended for human ingestion.” In addition, the labeling on the drugs sold and delivered to customers falsely stated that the drugs were “research compounds” and/or “not for human consumption.” Contrary to these representations, Fields and Mahan knew and intended that the drugs they sold were for human use, and through emails and posts on the Pinned Aminos Facebook group, they provided customers with information on the health benefits of the drugs they sold and directions on dosage.
Fields unlawfully shipped over 10,000 parcels to customers throughout the country and collected more than $1.4 million from customers. Fields and Mahan used the proceeds to pay themselves, purchase cars, and purchase a residence in Texas.
Fields and Mahan were arrested on August 23, 2023.
The jury found Fields guilty of one count of conspiracy to introduce misbranded or unapproved drugs into interstate commerce and to smuggle goods into the United States, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
The jury also ordered the forfeiture of Fields’ Texas residence and a vehicle he purchased with proceeds from the conspiracy.
Fields is released on bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.
On April 6, 2026, Mahan, 56, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. On August 13, 2026, she was sentenced to three years of probation.
This matter has been investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neeraj N. Patel and Justyn P. Stokely.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas for their assistance in this matter.
