Source: WFAA
A North Texas couple has pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle and sell unregistered pesticides and misbranded Veterinary drugs, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Thao Duong and Lam Mai of Garland operated an online business that sold illegal animal care products smuggled from Mexico, primarily to customers involved in rooster fighting. Duong, who is not a veterinarian, sold Veterinary drugs without requiring prescriptions, including products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States.
Beginning around 2011, Duong used online platforms to distribute the products nationwide, later launching a dedicated website in 2018. The smuggled goods entered the U.S. through California’s Calexico Port of Entry and were shipped to Texas for distribution. Between 2018 and 2022, Duong obtained approximately $2.4 million in illegal merchandise. Mai managed packaging and shipping through USPS and other carriers. The couple is scheduled for sentencing on June 9.