3 charged with illegal Internet drug sales

ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The owner of a Minnesota-based Internet pharmacy and a doctor and accountant who worked with him face federal charges of illegal sale of prescription drugs.

Christopher Smith of Prior Lake, Minn., was arrested there, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Federal prosecutors say Smith used Web sites and spam e-mail to build his business, and used telephone call centers in Minnesota, Canada and the Dominican Republic to take orders.

Also charged were Dr. Philip Mach of Franklin Park, N.J., and Bruce Jordan Lieberman of Farmingdale, N.Y. Mach allegedly wrote prescriptions for drugs supplied by Xpress while Lieberman is accused of handling the finances and laundering the proceeds.

Investigators say Mach did not communicate with any patients before writing prescriptions.

Federal authorities have seized Smith's house in Prior Lake, valued at more than $1 million, cars also worth more than $1 million and $1.3 million in cash.