Maryland Brothers Sentenced for HIV Drug Fraud

Two brothers from Maryland, Patrick and Charles Boyd, have been sentenced to a combined 38 years in prison for orchestrating a nationwide drug diversion scheme that put HIV-positive patients at serious risk. The owners of wholesale pharmaceutical distributor SafeChain Solutions were found guilty of endangering vulnerable individuals in their pursuit of profit.

A Nationwide HIV Drug Fraud Scheme

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Boyd brothers conspired with black-market suppliers to acquire HIV medications at heavily discounted prices from unsuspecting patients. They then allegedly resold these drugs under unsafe conditions. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that the brothers purchased diverted drugs from individuals on the street through “buyback schemes.” These medications were repackaged without proper labeling and shipped in unsanitary conditions, including dirty or opened bottles and used cardboard boxes, some sourced from trash.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida stated, “These defendants treated life-saving HIV medication like street contraband.” He detailed how they bought drugs off the street, shipped them in discarded packaging, falsified paperwork, and reintroduced them into the legitimate pharmaceutical supply chain. The consequences were dire, with at least one patient ingesting the wrong medication and losing consciousness.

Disregard for Patient Safety and Undermining the Supply Chain

Despite receiving complaints from pharmacies as early as August 2020 about receiving bottles with different medications, and warnings from customers, the Boyd brothers continued their operations. Trial evidence showed they took elaborate measures to conceal their activities, even circumventing their own director of compliance, who had repeatedly raised ignored concerns. Between April 2020 and September 2021, the brothers purchased and resold over 28,000 bottles of black-market HIV drugs, generating over $92.8 million in sales.

Experts testified that even missing a single dose of HIV medication can increase a patient’s viral load and the risk of transmission. Scott J. Lampert, acting deputy inspector general for investigations at HHS-OIG, condemned their actions, stating, “Their criminal scheme endangered vulnerable patients, put entire communities at risk, and undermined the integrity of Medicare and Medicaid.” Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurers were billed for these illicit drugs.

Convictions and Sentences

In October 2025, a jury found Patrick and Charles Boyd guilty of multiple charges, including conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, conspiracy to traffic in medical products with false documentation, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Patrick was sentenced to 18 years in prison, while Charles received a 20-year sentence. Both were also ordered to pay $21.85 million in forfeiture. A third defendant, Adam Brosius, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 97 months in prison.

• Maryland brothers Patrick and Charles Boyd sentenced to a combined 38 years for HIV drug fraud.
• They operated SafeChain Solutions, a wholesale pharmaceutical distributor.
• The scheme involved buying discounted HIV drugs from patients and reselling them in unsafe conditions.
• Evidence showed drugs were repackaged in dirty bottles, with falsified paperwork.
• The brothers endangered HIV patients and undermined the pharmaceutical supply chain.