Isis Navarro Reyes, a 36-year-old resident of Shirley, Long Island, has been named in a six-count indictment that was unsealed in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, May 1.
Between November 2022 and January 2024, Reyes allegedly posted numerous TikTok videos promoting and selling a range of weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic, Mesofrance, and Axcion. Prosecutors claim that these drugs were misbranded and adulterated.
Prosecutors said she acquired the drugs from Central and South America, even though she lacked the necessary license to administer prescription medication. It is important to note that none of the drugs she obtained were approved by the FDA for sale in the United States.
In her TikTok videos, Reyes allegedly provides detailed instructions on how to use the weight loss medications and emphasizes the recommended frequency of intake. Additionally, she encourages viewers who are interested in purchasing the drugs to reach out to her through an encrypted messaging app on her cell phone.
In February 2023, a woman living in White Plains, Westchester County, contacted Reyes and placed an order for 30 injections of the weight loss medication Mesofrance. As per the investigators, Reyes subsequently shipped the drugs to her residence.
According to reports, since all the labels were in a language other than English, Reyes took the initiative to send the woman audio messages, guiding her on how to properly administer the drug. Over the course of February to June 2023, the woman successfully self-administered a total of 28 injections.
On July 13, the woman reached out to Reyes and informed him that she was experiencing lesions as a result of using the Mesofrance. Along with her message, she included photographs of her injuries.
After three months, the woman received a diagnosis from her doctor for a mycobacterium abscessus infection. This type of infection is often linked to contaminated medication.
The New York Department of Health conducted a test on one of the vials from Mesofrance, which Reyes supposedly bought, and verified the presence of the bacteria.
According to prosecutors, Reyes was taken into custody on Wednesday, May 1st, after she sent the drug Ozempic to an undercover federal agent who paid her $375 for it.
The charges against her include the following:
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- Receipt of misbranded drugs in interstate commerce
- Three counts of dispensing of a misbranded drug while held for sale
- Conspiracy to introduce and deliver for introduction a misbranded drug in interstate commerce
- Smuggling
US Attorney Breon Peace said that the case brings attention to a growing trend of criminals capitalizing on the increasing public fascination with weight loss drugs.
According to Peace, Reyes’s purported illegal distribution of these medications had a profound impact on the victims, resulting in life-threatening injuries for some and jeopardizing the well-being of all.
Reyes will face charges for misbranding and adulteration in relation to semaglutide. This case serves as a reminder that individuals involved in the illegal sale of weight loss drugs will be held accountable for their actions. It should serve as a deterrent for criminals considering engaging in such activities without the proper authorization.
Purchasing medications, particularly on social media, requires utmost caution and the guidance of a healthcare professional, as highlighted by this case.
