Notorious ‘Pharma Bro’ is facing another investigation while behind bars — this time from the Bureau of Prisons

Notorious ‘Pharma Bro’ is facing another investigation while behind bars — this time from the Bureau of Prisons
Bloomberg
News & Politics

Martin Shkreli, the disgraced pharmaceutical executive who has been serving a seven-year prison sentence on fraud and conspiracy charges, is facing an investigation from the Bureau of Prisons after the Wall Street Journal reported that he had been using a cell phone to conduct business behind bars.


In the United States’ federal prison system, inmates are forbidden to have cell phones—even in a minimum security facility like the one Shkreli was sent to—and Shkreli could face either a fine or an additional year of prison time if convicted.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that despite Shkreli’s incarceration, he “remains the shadow power” at his pharmaceutical company, Phoenixus AG.

In an official statement on Friday, the Bureau of Prisons said of the Wall Street Journal’s allegations, “When there are allegations of misconduct, they are thoroughly investigated—and appropriate action is taken if such allegations are proven true. This allegation is currently under investigation.”

Several years ago, Shkreli was given the derogatory nickname “Pharma Bro” in media coverage of his activities. In 2015, Shkreli was inundated with negative publicity after raising the price of Daraprim (a drug used by some AIDS patients) from $13.50 per pill to $750 per pill.

In August 2017, Shkreli was found guilty of two counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Federal prosecutors requested a sentence of 15 years, while his attorneys asked for a lenient sentence of 12 to 18 months. But ultimately, Shkreli received a seven-year sentence.

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