The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced Monday that John Warrington Kosolcharoen, 53, former CEO of Irvine-based Liveyon LLC, has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison.
Kosolcharoen was found guilty of marketing unapproved stem cell products that caused multiple hospitalizations due to bacterial infections.
Kosolcharoen pleaded guilty in August to one count of introducing an unapproved new drug into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud and mislead.
“Misleading the public about the safety and effectiveness of purported cures and treatments is illegal,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s (DOJ) Civil Division.
“The department will work with its law enforcement partners to prosecute individuals who market potentially dangerous products for personal gain.”
According to the DOJ, Through Liveyon LLC and San Diego-based Genetech Inc., Kosolcharoen distributed stem cell products made from human umbilical cord blood under the brand name “ReGen.”