"Pharma Bro" in solitary confinement for alleged use of contraband phones



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By Associated press

Martin Shkreli, a specialist in pharmaceuticals, was imprisoned in solitary confinement because of allegations that he was running his pharmaceutical company from a federal prison with the help of a smuggling smartphone. , told the Associated Press a person familiar with the case.

Shkreli was transferred to solitary confinement on March 7 in the premises of Fort Dix, New Jersey, and will likely remain there while his alleged behavior is the subject of an investigation, he said. the person. The person was not allowed to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

On March 8, the US Bureau of Prisons told the AP that it was investigating whether Shkreli, known as "Pharma Bro", was breaking prison rules banning detainees to do business and own a cell phone.

This investigation resulted in no charges under the agency's inmate discipline program, said the person, indicating that the case might have been referred to federal prosecutors for the purposes of potential criminal prosecution.

Benjamin Brafman, Shkreli's lawyer, declined to comment.

The Bureau of Prisons stated that it did not disclose information about the conditions of detention of an inmate.

"The case you are talking about is the subject of an investigation," said the agency in a statement. "When there are allegations of misconduct, they are subject to thorough investigation and appropriate action is taken if the allegations are upheld."

The US Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, which sued Shkreli, declined to comment. The US Attorney's Office in New Jersey also declined to comment.

The Shkreli movement in solitary confinement was first reported by Forbes.

Shkreli, 36, is serving a seven-year sentence in a low-security penitentiary complex about 65 km from Philadelphia. In August 2017, he was found guilty of lying to investors in two bankrupt hedge funds and cheating them of millions.

Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Shkreli had used a cell phone to call his drug company Phoenixus AG, regularly posting on social media and even firing his general manager.

The punishment of detainees taken with a mobile phone depends on how the case is handled.

If prosecuted in court, a conviction could result in another year in prison. In the inmate discipline program, having a cell phone is considered a "most serious" offense and involves penalties ranging from loss of privilege to privileges up to one year in solitary confinement.

In the case of Shkreli, he could face more punishment if it is also established that he drove business while he was locked up.

Aside from the alleged cell phone rumor, Shkreli is quite well behaved. The detainee 's discipline records show that his only other violations are the denial of an order and his absence from a mission in May 2018.

The case of Shkreli's securities fraud stems from its role in managing MSMB Capital Management and MSMB Healthcare between 2009 and 2014. It was not related to the fury it caused in 2015 when it had raised the price more than 5,000% of a drug used to treat an infection that has occurred in some AIDS, malaria and cancer patients.

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