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| Boca Raton trainer sentenced for role in prescription drug scheme
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Boca Raton trainer sentenced for role in prescription drug scheme
By LARRY KELLER
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
WEST PALM BEACH — Moments before a judge was to sentence him today for participating in a black market prescription drug scheme, Boca Raton personal trainer Patrick Bronder tearfully pleaded for mercy.
"I'm sorry for what I've done," he said. "I'm not the same person today."
U.S. District Court Judge Donald Middlebrooks then sentenced Bronder, 48, to seven years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. That was the shortest prison term possible under federal sentencing guidelines, which called for a maximum of nine years in prison.
Bronder pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and engaged in the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs without a valid state license, and to federal income tax evasion.
Bronder and a New Jersey chiropractor bought human growth hormone, cancer medications and other prescription drugs on the black market, then sold them for more than $7 million to a wholesaler during 14 months in 2001 and 2002.
Bronder had more than $3.3 million wired into bank accounts in the Bahamas with the help of his former brother-in-law, authorities said. He paid nearly $326,000 to the government as part of his plea deal. But Middlebrooks imposed no fines on Bronder, saying he doesn't appear to have the ability to pay them.
After sentence was pronounced, Bronder's attorney asked the Middlebrooks if his client could begin serving his prison time later. The judge denied the request. Bronder then removed his coat, blew a kiss to his family and friends and was escorted out of the courtroom.
Source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
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