A federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas has indicted XiaoFei Chen, a Chinese national, on two counts related to the distribution of pill press equipment potentially used to manufacture counterfeit drugs laced with fentanyl. Chen, who was arrested on October 29 at a trade show in Las Vegas, is accused of selling pill press machines, molds, and counterfeit dies that allow criminals to produce counterfeit pills resembling legitimate pharmaceutical drugs, including opioid medications.
According to the criminal complaint, Chen worked for a Chinese-based company that specialized in selling the die molds and pill press equipment used to make counterfeit drugs. The complaint alleges that Chen knowingly sold these tools to buyers in the United States, including counterfeit dies that mimic prescription pills, such as the M30 die used to create fake opioid tablets. Chen is also accused of evading Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) disclosure requirements by dismantling the equipment and shipping it in parts under mislabeled packaging.
The sale of such equipment is prohibited under the Controlled Substances Act if it is intended for unlawful use, such as manufacturing fentanyl-laced pills. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 times stronger than heroin and is a significant contributor to the ongoing drug overdose crisis in the U.S., claiming the lives of more than 107,000 Americans in 2023 alone. Fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills are a growing concern, as tests have shown that more than half of such pills contain potentially lethal doses of the drug.
“The fentanyl epidemic has taken hundreds of thousands of American lives, and this case reflects the department’s unwavering commitment to prosecuting every level of the deadly fentanyl supply chain,” said Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. “We will continue to protect Americans by prosecuting those who contribute to the illegal sale of pill press equipment.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger emphasized the critical role of law enforcement in preventing the distribution of such equipment, which can fuel the opioid crisis.
Chen faces charges of conspiracy to distribute and import a tableting machine used to manufacture controlled substances and conspiracy to distribute counterfeit dies used to replicate the marks and imprints of legitimate pharmaceuticals. If convicted, she could face up to four years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal judge will determine her sentence following the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case highlights the growing international network behind the fentanyl epidemic and the ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to dismantle it at every level, from distribution of chemicals and equipment to the manufacturers of counterfeit drugs.
