Man pleads guilty to drug fraud

BALTIMORE, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- A Maryland man whose charitable firm transported donated medicine to Africa has pleaded guilty to charges of misbranding drugs, the government says.

Joseph Egbe, 44, of Gwynn Oak was accused of re-labeling prescription medications destined for countries in need and selling them to a pharmacy in Baltimore, the Food and Drug Administration reported Wednesday.

According to court documents, Egbe's charitable organization, e-Meditech, received shipments of donated prescription drugs for transport to Africa.

Court documents say between 2007 and 2008, he removed drugs from their packages and placed them in barrels with false labels. He later sold those drugs to a pharmacist who owned and operated two drug stores in Baltimore.

U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein says Egbe faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Sentencing has been set for January 4, 2010.