NATION : Ex-FDA Chemist Jailed for Bribe
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BALTIMORE — A former chemist for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was sentenced today to 30 days in prison for taking $4,300 in bribes to influence the government’s approval of generic drugs made by two companies.
U.S. District Judge John Hargrove sentenced David Brancato to three two-year prison terms, but suspended all but 30 days. Brancato also was fined $3,000, ordered to serve 500 hours of community service and put on probation for three years.
He was accused of accepting bribes from Ashok Patel, former senior vice president of Par Pharmaceuticals of Spring Valley, N.Y., and Dilip Shah, former president of Quad Pharmaceuticals of Indianapolis. Patel and Shah were convicted earlier.
Prosecutors said Brancato, who worked in the FDA’s Rockville, Md., office, took the money in exchange for favorable FDA treatment of applications for approval of generic drugs produced by the companies.
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