LOS ANGELES : Man Pleads Guilty to Lying About Syringe in Pepsi Can
A West Hollywood man pleaded guilty Monday to lying to the Food and Drug Administration when he reported finding a syringe in a can of Diet Pepsi, federal prosecutors said.
James Ray Russell, 30, of West Hollywood entered the plea to one count of making false statements to the FDA. Russell attracted media attention after reporting to sheriff’s deputies that he had found a syringe in a soda can that he had just bought at a West Hollywood convenience store.
Russell was arrested in mid-June after admitting that he had placed the syringe in the can so he could sue the soft drink giant. The money he won, Russell said, would have been used to help the homeless. His report came during a nationwide rash of similar reports, all of which were unfounded.
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