Texas Woman Sentenced for Distributing Unapproved Drug in Multimillion-Dollar Scheme

Medford, Oregon- Nicole Randall, 37, of Cedar Park, Texas, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today to one year of probation for introducing an adulterated drug into interstate commerce.

Court documents reveal that between February 2020 and May 2022, Randall smuggled GS-441524, a drug unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human or animal use, into the United States under false labels. The drug was disguised as facial masks, pet shampoo, beauty products, and cosmetics.

Despite lacking veterinary or prescriber licenses, Randall utilized the Facebook group “FIP Warriors 5.0” to promote and distribute the drug. The group targeted cat owners by diagnosing feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a viral disease affecting cats, and prescribing GS-441524 for treatment. Customers were directed to make payments through platforms such as PayPal, Zelle, or CashApp. Randall instructed buyers to omit specific references to the drug or its intended use in payment notes.

In one instance, an undercover agent joined “FIP Warriors 5.0” in August 2021 and submitted photographs of a healthy cat that had recently been examined by a licensed veterinarian. Randall misdiagnosed the animal with FIP and prescribed GS-441524.

A federal search warrant executed at Randall’s residence in July 2022 led to the seizure of approximately 30 boxes of glass vials containing the unapproved drug. Investigators determined that Randall had distributed 58,460 liquid vials and 236,836 pills of GS-441524 between July 2020 and June 2022.

Randall was charged with introducing an adulterated drug into interstate commerce on June 4, 2024. She later agreed to a plea deal that included the forfeiture of assets valued at roughly $4 million. These assets, traceable to the proceeds of her illegal operation, included four real properties, ten financial accounts, and a Tesla.

The investigation was conducted by the FDA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John C. Brassell and Katherine C. de Villiers for the District of Oregon.