Fine Expected for Former FDA Commissioner
Lester Crawford likely will face no prison time as punishment for false reporting and conflicts of interest related to ownership of stocks in companies regulated by the agency, the Washington Post reports. Crawford resigned as FDA commissioner in September 2005 (Washington Post, 1/20).
Under an agreement with federal prosecutors, Crawford likely will face a $50,000 fine and probation (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 1/19). Crawford in October 2006 pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges from the Department of Justice in U.S. District Court. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
According to DOJ, Crawford and his wife owned stock in a number of FDA-regulated companies when he held senior positions at the agency but failed to disclose the holdings and made false statements about stocks he and his wife owned (California Healthline, 10/18/06).
Crawford is scheduled to receive his sentence on Monday (CQ HealthBeat, 1/19).