counterfeit contacts indictment out of Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

A Las Vegas resident, Dmitriy V. Melnik, 29,  was indicted by the Feds  for operating a counterfeit and misbranded contact lens operation. See article here....http://www.justice.gov/usao-nv/pr/las-vegas-resident-indicted-running-counterfeit-and-misbranded-contact-lens-operation

Melnik imported thousands of colored contact lens from China. 

Being that contact lenses are medical devices, the FDA requires authorization. The government alleges that Melnik did not get authorization. How did the  government find out about his illegal operation? People complained about the quality of the lenses. Some of the lenses were tested and found to be contaminated with  possibly hazardous bacteria.

website claims contacts are FDA Approved 

If you go to the website of Mr. Melnik, it says that the contact lenses were FDA Approved.   I assume that is why they are calling it counterfeit and misbranded. Melnik sounds Russian or Ukranian. 

I am surprised that his website is still up eventhough the Feds indicted him. I guess there is the caveat,
buyer beware...

Now, if he goes to trial and wins, he may be able to continue to sell his merchandise, provided it is FDA approved. However, if he goes to trial and loses, he may be hammered. It all depends on how much he made. The sentencing guideline is based on the fraud amount. I assume Mr. Melnik knows the truth and I hope he does the right thing. If he did fraud, he needs to fess up and come clean. 

I spent time in prison for immigration fraud. To see what federal prison is all about, go here...http://www.amazon.com/PRISON-expect-Federal-Bureau-Prisons-ebook/dp/B011GTWLOG