Guilty Plea Highlights Work of Alberta Partnership Against Cross-Border Fraud

Ottawa, May 31, 2010 — Further to an investigation led by the Alberta Partnership Against Cross-Border Fraud, of which the Competition Bureau is a member, an Edmonton man has pleaded guilty in U.S. court to selling counterfeit cancer drugs over the Internet. Hazim Gaber admitted to selling what he falsely claimed was the experimental cancer drug sodium dichloroacetate, also known as DCA, to at least 65 victims in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands between October and November 2007. DCA is a highly sought-after, experimental cancer drug that cannot be prescribed by a doctor in Canada or the United States, as it is neither approved for use in patients with cancer, nor available in pharmacies.

Gaber faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years on each of the five counts of wire fraud to which he pleaded guilty, as well as a maximum fine of $250,000 per count. As part of the plea agreement, Gaber must cancel any Web site, domain name or Internet services account related to this fraud scheme. Sentencing is scheduled for August 2, 2010.

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