US PROSECUTORS are seeking to have the prison sentences imposed on two men linked to the distribution of tainted drugs which caused a fatal fungal meningitis outbreak in the US in 2012, extended to 17 and a half years.
New England Compounding Center Co-Founder, Barry Cadden, is currently serving a nine-year sentence, while former supervisory pharmacist, Glenn Chin, received an eight-year term, after being convicted of racketeering and fraud convictions.
The tainted medication led to 793 patients developing the fungal meningitis, 100 of whom died as a result.
Prosecutors had initially sought a 35-year prison sentence for both men, but lodged a recommendation calling for sentences of 168 to 210 months in a filing made to the First US Circuit Court of Appeals on Fri.
"A sentence at the top end of the correct sentencing guidelines range more adequately captures the gravity and context of Cadden's offenses and takes into consideration the horrific harm he caused," they said.
The prosecutors added that the two men should be ordered to pay US$82 million in joint restitution to their victims, in addition to increasing fines from US$7.54 million to US$11.2 million for Cadden, while saying Chin's forfeiture should be increased from US$175,000 to US$473,584.
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