In a heavy blow to illicit pharmaceutical operations, two Miami men have received federal prison sentences for their involvement in schemes that endangered patient health and violated drug safety regulations. Boris Arencibia, 52, and Jose Armando Rivera Garcia, 45, were sentenced on Oct. 30 to 57 months each for their roles in a $28 million operation trafficking misbranded and diverted prescription drugs, some used to treat life-threatening conditions like HIV and cancer, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The pharmaceutical drugs, which demand precise storage to maintain efficacy, were purchased from unauthorized street sources and stored without care. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, “Diverted drugs put patients’ lives at risk.” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida emphasized the nefarious nature of the conspiracy, with the defendants knowingly circulating tainted medications nationwide.
The drugs in question were repackaged and accompanied by falsified documents to mimic legitimate supply chains, ultimately being sold to pharmacies and unsuspecting patients across the United States. The counterfeit drugs posed serious health risks, instances revealing bottles containing incorrect medications, vitamins, and in some egregious cases, mere pebbles. The scheme, unveiled in two indictments—one in 2019 with 20 defendants and the other filed in 2025—showcased an extensive network of crime, deception, and disregard for human life…