Mo. pharmacist gets probation for selling fake Lipitor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Former Kansas City-area pharmacist Doug Albers has received five years' probation for selling fake or misbranded medication.

The sentence Wednesday came nearly one year after Albers admitted his involvement in an alleged conspiracy to sell $42 million in stolen, misbranded and bogus pharmaceutical drugs.

The 55-year-old Albers, of Leawood, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count each of selling a counterfeit and misbranded human growth hormone used to treat cancer and AIDS patients. The government dropped charges that his company sold fake Lipitor, an anti-cholesterol drug.

U.S. District Judge Ortie Smith opted against the maximum sentence of six years in prison, citing Albers' cooperation with prosecutors.

As part of the plea deal, Albers agreed to forfeit his Kansas and Missouri pharmacist licenses.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com