How an Online Pharmacy Sold Millions Worth Of Ivermectin

[Nevilledog]

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TIME
@TIME
1/ NEW: A TIME investigation reveals how an online pharmacy was able to capitalize on the pandemic—backed by PPP loans—by partnering with right-wing groups to sell millions worth of ivermectin to vaccine skeptics

How an Online Pharmacy Sold Millions Worth Of Ivermectin
A TIME investigation reveals how a company saddled with legal issues secured a PPP loan to distribute dubious drugs to misinformed patients
time.com
9:51 AM · Oct 13, 2021

https://time.com/6104407/ravkoo-pharmacy-ivermectin-covid-19-ppp-loan/


Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the network of pharmacies run by businessmen Alpesh and Manish Patel was struggling.

At least 15 of its 82 pharmacies had been shuttered or sold amid mounting debts and mismanagement. It faced lawsuits alleging it owed millions of dollars to pharmaceutical suppliers and shipping companies. Employees and patients had started to accuse the company of fraud. Some employees who had left were being questioned by federal law enforcement agents. One top executive had previously been convicted for his role in running a national opioid pill mill; two others, including Manish Patel himself, were barred from doing business with federal health-care programs due to allegations ranging from racketeering to conspiracy to paying illegal kickbacks.

But then the pandemic presented an opportunity: loosened rules for telehealth and long-distance prescription writing combined with massive demand for unproven COVID-19 treatments could mean big money. And the Patels soon capitalized.

First, they were able to take advantage of an influx of cash from the federal government. Between the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and April 2021, companies registered to the Patels received at least $7 million in loans from the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, according to an analysis of corporate records shared with TIME by a Texas-based medical litigation support firm, Reason and Results.

*snip*

[PoliticAverse]

1. "received at least $7 million in loans from the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program"

I wonder if any of that got paid back or just became the "forgiven loan" part of the PPP.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. I gotta admit ... it's kinda genius

Evil Genius, of course, and in no way something I'd be involved in.

But ... as far as Evil Plots go, this one was solid.

[keithbvadu2]

3. I was thinking of some partnership involving Jared.

I was thinking of some partnership involving Jared.