Undercover sting targets NYC pharmacist allegedly hoarding coronavirus masks

[LiberalArkie]

A New York City pharmacist is under investigation for “exploiting the present Covid-19 pandemic and engaging in price gouging,” according to a search warrant application unsealed earlier this week in federal court.

In early April, says the government filing, an informant contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, with a tip that the retail pharmacist, Richard Schirripa, was selling personal protective equipment, or PPE, to New Yorkers at up to 15 times the regular price.

Some weeks earlier, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had established anti-hoarding measures for various “scarce” materials during the coronavirus pandemic. The list included, among other things, medical-grade PPE such as N95 respirator masks meant for doctors, nurses, and first responders. Around the same time, the Department of Justice announced the formation of a task force that would combat hoarding and price gouging.

Since then, New York City has become the pandemic’s epicenter, with more than 6,000 coronavirus-related deaths to date. Healthcare workers in the city have struggled to source enough PPE, resorting to reusing disposable face masks and wearing garbage bags for protection. This past Friday, N95 manufacturer 3M filed a federal lawsuit against a New Jersey company it says tried to sell the masks for six times the usual amount.

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https://qz.com/1836652/sting-targets-nyc-pharmacist-allegedly-hoarding-coronavirus-masks/

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Seems Like A Swell Guy

It's his second time in trouble!
Licensure in jeopardy?

[Skittles]

2. misery profiteers

they're no better than war profiteers

my brother is a director at an animal rescue facility - when he came across boxes of masks in storage - 250 masks - he contacted a nearby place that cares for disabled adults, asking if they could use them (no cost) - they did and the masks were picked up

[LiberalArkie]

3. I am hoping that this will cause hospitals and other places to start designing in storage facilities

into buildings.. They don't do it now because "We can just order some when we need it and they next day them to us". Corporations never learn though. It can ever happen again, can it?

[SheltieLover]

5. Yes they should!

Who could have ever imagined a pres that would confisgate medical equipment going to states to presumably auction it off? 🤯🤬

Corps are always short sighted. Makes the bottom line look better this month.

[SheltieLover]

4. Must be a repuke!

What did fed do with all that medical gear? Give it to Dimwit to auction off? 🤬🤬🤬🤬