Houston federal court sentences man for trafficking counterfeit Keytruda, underscoring risks in the oncology drug supply chain

Prison term follows undercover operation tied to shipments of counterfeit cancer medicine into Houston

A federal judge in Houston has sentenced Sanjay Kumar, an Indian national, to a prison term of nearly four years after his conviction for trafficking counterfeit cancer medication that was shipped to Houston as part of a broader scheme spanning multiple years.

The sentence stems from a case centered on counterfeit versions of Keytruda, an immunotherapy used in the treatment of multiple cancers. The legitimate drug is manufactured under exclusive authorization held by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, and it is administered in clinical settings where product integrity is critical. Federal authorities have described the counterfeit product attributed to Kumar as bearing fake trademarks and lacking the active ingredient needed to treat cancer, instead containing fillers and adulterants with no medical purpose.

The counterfeit vials at issue were designed to resemble authentic oncology pharmaceuticals while providing no therapeutic effect.

Case timeline: indictment, arrest in Houston, guilty plea, and sentencing

In July 2024, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas returned an indictment alleging that Kumar and co-conspirators arranged the sale and shipment of counterfeit oncology pharmaceuticals—including Keytruda—into the United States. Investigators said Kumar traveled to Houston and was arrested on June 26, 2024, during negotiations aimed at expanding sales in the U.S. market.

Authorities later outlined a longer window for the conduct. In a court filing tied to Kumar’s guilty plea, prosecutors stated the conspiracy extended from August 2018 through June 2024 and involved trafficking counterfeit Keytruda valued in the tens of thousands of dollars. Sentencing had been scheduled for Jan. 13, 2026, in U.S. District Court before the court imposed the prison term in early March 2026.

What the court found significant about the counterfeit product

Keytruda is used across a range of indications in oncology, and counterfeit versions present a dual risk: patients may be deprived of effective therapy, and clinicians may lose confidence in the integrity of products circulating outside verified channels. Prosecutors stated that during an undercover operation Kumar attempted to sell additional quantities and acknowledged the product would not work for treating cancer, describing it as “just like water.”

• The counterfeit items were described as bearing fake trademarks and counterfeit packaging closely resembling registered marks.

• The product was described as lacking the active ingredient required to treat cancer.

• The investigation involved coordinated federal enforcement activity focused on counterfeit medical products.

Enforcement focus: cross-border trafficking and patient safety

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Food and Drug Administration. The prosecution was handled by federal prosecutors in Houston alongside attorneys from the Justice Department unit that handles intellectual property and related criminal enforcement.

The sentencing adds to a body of federal cases targeting counterfeit pharmaceuticals that move through international supply routes and reach U.S. buyers. In this matter, the Houston region served as the focal point for negotiations and shipments, illustrating how counterfeit oncology drugs can be introduced into U.S. commerce even when the legitimate product is tightly controlled through authorized manufacturing and distribution channels.