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Ex pharmaceutical CEO Martin Shkreli mocks government, pleads not guilty

By Andrew V. Pestano
Former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli (L), seen here arriving at a U.S. federal courthouse on February 3, in New York City, on Monday pleaded not guilty to an additional criminal charge recently brought against him. After his court appearance, Shkreli said U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto "bitch-slapped the government" after the judge ruled not to schedule a trial date. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli (L), seen here arriving at a U.S. federal courthouse on February 3, in New York City, on Monday pleaded not guilty to an additional criminal charge recently brought against him. After his court appearance, Shkreli said U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto "bitch-slapped the government" after the judge ruled not to schedule a trial date. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

NEW YORK, June 7 (UPI) -- Martin Shkreli, a former pharmaceutical head who became known for leading a 5,000 percent price increase of an essential drug, said U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto "bitch-slapped the government" after a court appearance on Monday.

Shkreli, 33, made the comment during a live video stream at a Manhattan Dunkin' Donuts following his court appearance, where a judge delayed the scheduling of his trial.

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Shkreli pleaded not guilty on Monday to an additional criminal charge filed Friday that alleges a conspiracy to commit securities fraud in the unrestricted securities of Retrophin, one of Shkreli's former companies.

"It went great, the judge bitch-slapped the government, again," Shkreli said during his stream, in which he later told his audience that "90 percent of you watching this are morons, maybe not 90 percent -- 50 percent."

Evan Greebel, Shkreli's former attorney and a co-defendant in the case, also pleaded not guilty to the recent charge. Shkreli and Greebel are due back in court on July 14 when Matsumoto hopes to set up a calendar of motions and a trial date. Matsumoto suggest the trial could begin early next year.

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In August, Turing acquired Daraprim, a drug that was first developed in 1953, and the company immediately increased the price from $13.50 per pill to $750 -- a 5,000 percent increase.

In December, Shkreli, 32, was arrested on securities charge unrelated to the price hike he instituted for Daraprim. Prosecutors allege he illegally took stock from Retrophin and used that to pay debts from unrelated business dealings.

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