Sixth Circuit Affirms Steep Sentence in FDC Act Counterfeiting Case February 9, 2026 By Andrew J. Hull —

https://www.thefdalawblog.com/2026/02/sixth-circuit-affirms-steep-sentence-in-fdc-act-counterfeiting-case/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sixth-circuit-affirms-steep-sentence-in-fdc-act-counterfeiting-case As prosecutions for manufacturing and distributing counterfeit drugs continue to rise with enhanced investigatory tools and federal statutes (see DEA’s recent announcement on “Operation Meltdown”), courts are grappling with how to fashion appropriate sentences. Last week, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the 90-month sentence of Omar Wala who pleaded guilty to conspiring to manufacture and sell counterfeit generic alprazolam pills on the dark web. See United States v. Wala, No. 24-6021 (6th Cir. Feb. 4. 2026). The Sixth Circuit’s decision provides a roadmap for how other federal courts may end up applying complex sentencing guidelines to future drug counterfeiting cases.