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 products smuggled from Mexico, generating approximately $2.4 million in sales between 2018 and 2022.
Court records show Duong began selling animal care products online as early as 2011, primarily to individuals involved in cockfighting. She was not a veterinarian and did not require prescriptions for Veterinary drugs, including products not approved for U.S. use. The smuggled pesticides and drugs entered the country through California and were shipped nationwide, with Mai managing packaging and distribution.
Federal officials emphasized the public health and environmental risks posed by illegal chemicals. The case involved coordinated efforts by multiple agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency. Sentencing is scheduled for June 9.