By Walter F. Roche Jr.
A federal judge today ordered a former pharmacist to pay $82 million in restitution and boosted his jail sentence on racketeering and conspiracy charges to 10.5 years.
U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns imposed the sentence on Glenn A. Chin, a former supervising pharmacist at the Massachusetts drug compounding firm blamed for a deadly 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak.
"I never meant to hurt anyone," Chin said.
In setting the sentence Stearns acknowledged that an appeals court had concluded that his original eight year sentence was too lenient.
Chin, who is currently being held in a Michigan jail on related second degree murder charges, testified by ZOOM, stating that he never would have let the drugs be dispensed had he known they were contaminated with deadly fungi.
Chin and co-defendant Barry Cadden were convicted on racketeering, conspiracy and mail fraud charges for their roles at the now defunct New England Compounding Center. At a prior re-sentencing session Cadden's sentence was boosted to 14.5 years. He is also subject to the restitution order.
Prosecutors have stated that they intend for most of that money, a little over $80 million, to go to outbreak victims or their survivors. Federal officials have stated that over 100 victims have died among over 700 who were sickened.
Stearns said he did not believe Chin should get the same sentence as Cadden, noting that Chin, unlike Cadden, had no ownership interest in NECC.
Chin said he had at first blamed Cadden for what happened but now had forgiven him.
"I'm ashamed," he said, adding "I should have just quit."
Chin said he still can't figure out what caused the steroids to become contaminated with deadly fungi.
Stating that life in the Livingston County Jail was difficult, he said "It's dirty and smelly and sometimes dangerous"
He said it broke his heart to hear the mother of a Tennessee victim describe what her daughter was still going through.
Chin said that all he could hope for was that the judge would be "merciful and fair."
Stearns said he had concluded Chin was expressing genuine remorse.
"I do believe you are a better man. I wish you well," Stearns said, adding that he hoped conditions in the Michigan jail would improve.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmil.com
Why is it people are sorry after they're caught, rather than not sorry until they are?
ReplyDeleteChin wasn't merciful and fair, just looking at the $ signs. Poor victims!
ReplyDeleteIf only they understood the kind of hell, they have left some of us in.
ReplyDeleteFor too many of us, our lives as we knew them ended in Sept of 2012.
For some the sentence was death, some life in constant pain, some left with nothing, close to the life they lead with the ability to work.
For some it’s amazing, you feel you have the right to complain.
Like gangsters you lived the life, you got busted. Not many gangsters can reach, the kind of damage you all accomplished !