CINCINNATI—The U.S. Department of
Justice has released approximately $24 million for remission payments to
victims nationwide who purchased “sexual enhancement” and other nutritional
products from Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals Inc. under fraudulent circumstances
between 2001 and 2005.
The release of the funds that were
ordered forfeited following the criminal conviction of former Berkeley
president and owner Steven E. Warshak and 10 other executives was announced
today by Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio;
Dugan Wong, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Edward Hanko,
Special Agent in Charge, FBI Cincinnati Field Division; Darryl K. Williams,
Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; Kim
Rice, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of
Criminal Investigations; and Patrick Sedoti, Acting U.S. Marshal for the
Southern District of Ohio.
Berkeley advertised its products on
national television, print media, radio, and the Internet. The television ads
featured “Smiling Bob,” a man with an exaggerated smile. Customers often
discovered that their credit cards were charged for additional products without
their knowledge or consent.
A jury convicted Warshak in 2008 on 93
counts of bank fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering, and he was sentenced to
10 years in prison. He and his co-conspirators were ordered to forfeit bank
accounts and other property.
“We are committed to fight fraud against
innocent consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Stewart. “We are pleased to be able to
make these payments to victims across the country of the fraud committed by
former Berkeley executives.”
In conjunction with a class action
lawsuit filed against Berkeley in Ohio state court, the U.S. Department of
Justice approved 138,426 claims for remission. For a limited time, new requests
for remission will be accepted from persons who did not participate in the
class action and have not already submitted a claim for remission.
To be eligible for a new claim for
remission, consumers must have: 1) purchased Enzyte between August 2001 and
April 20, 2005; 2) purchased Avlimil between January 1, 2003 and July 30, 2004;
or 3) incurred unauthorized credit card charges on any Berkeley products on or
before August 16, 2004 and must not have previously received a refund. The
claims must be submitted online or postmarked no later than July 9, 2012.
Persons interested in submitting claims
for remission should call the Berkeley Forfeited Funds Claims Administrator
toll-free at 1-855-886-6887 or visit their website at
www.BerkeleyForfeiture.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment