West Long Branch Democrat Chairman Ordered To Stop Distribution of Unapproved and Mislabeled Drugs

A West Long Branch couple with ties to State Senate candidate Vin Gopal, and two of their Monmouth County based companies have been enjoined from distributing their unapproved injectable skin whitening drugs and other drugs in violation of federal law, the Department of Justice announced today.

Jack H. Gindi and Susana B. Boleche, who are married according to their facebook pages, Flawless Beauty, LLC and RDG Imports, LLC were permanently enjoined from distributing unapproved and misbranded drugs in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).  In addition, the injunction requires the defendants to recall and destroy all of their unapproved injectable skin whitening drugs.  Flawless Beauty, 90% owned by Gindi and 10% owned by Boleche, operates out of Ocean Township and Asbury Park.  RDG, the enterprise’s importing arm, is co-located in Asbury Park with Flawless Beauty.  Gindi owns 100% of RDG, according to the U.S. Justice Department complaint.

Gindi is the Democrat Muncipal Chairman of West Long Branch, according to the Monmouth Dems’ website. He was the Democrat candidate for Mayor of the Borough in 2014 while Gopal was the Monmouth County Democrat Chairman. He endorsed Gopal for State Senate earlier this month, according to an announcement by the campaign. Gopal, Gindi and Boleche served together on a dinner committee for Yeshivas at the Jersey Shore last spring.

Gopal has not responded to an email requesting comment.

According to the government’s complaint, the defendants were engaged in their illegal activity since at least 2014.

“The Department of Justice is committed to enforcing federal consumer protection laws,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.  “We will continue to work diligently with the FDA to ensure that companies and individuals follow the laws designed to protect American consumers.”

As noted in the complaint, the vast majority of the defendants’ products are marketed with skin whitening claims.  According to the complaint, some of defendants’ products contain unsubstantiated therapeutic claims.  For example, some of the products were promoted with claims such as “contribute to good liver function” and “clinically treat degenerative brain & liver diseases including Parkinsons.”   The complaint alleged that the defendants introduce new drugs, or cause them to be introduced, into interstate commerce in violation of the law.

The complaint alleged that defendants’ unapproved new and misbranded drugs present serious public health risks, especially defendants’ purportedly sterile injectable skin whitening drugs.  Intravenous and intramuscular administration of drugs creates many risks, including nerve or blood vessel damage, blood-borne infection, superficial skin infection, cellulitis, abscess formation and toxic systemic reactions.

The complaint alleged that in addition to distributing unapproved drugs, some of the defendants’ drugs were misbranded because they contained labeling that is false or misleading.  In particular, the complaint alleged that the labeling suggests or implies FDA approval or endorsement, when no such FDA approval for any of these products existed.  The complaint further alleged that some of defendants’ unapproved drugs are misbranded because they bear inadequate directions for use, are unsafe prescription drugs, and are prescription drugs that fail to bear ‘Rx’ on their labels.

Products referenced in the complaint include Relumins Advanced Glutathione and New Relumins Advanced Glutathione 3500 mg; Tatiomax Glutathione Collagen Whitening; and Laennec Human Placenta Whitening; Relumins Advanced Oral Whitening & Antiaging Stack; Authentic Relumins Advanced White Stem Cell Therapy All In One Day Lotion; Authentic Relumins Advance Whitening Facial Cream With TA Stem Cell & Placenta; Relumins Medicated Professional Acne & Dark Spot Fighting Set; Natural Pearl Whitening Lotion; Authentic Kustie Beauty Slimming Activated Hot Cream; Authentic Mosbeau Placenta White Clarifying Toner; Gluta PowerPeel Soap; Relumins Advance White-Whitening Deodorant Roll-On and Sante Barley Fusion.

In conjunction with the filing of the complaint, the defendants agreed to settle the case and to be bound by a permanent injunction.  The injunction requires defendants to stop importing, receiving, manufacturing, preparing, processing, packing, labeling, holding, and/or distributing any unapproved drugs, including their injectable skin whitening drugs, unless and until defendants comply with specific remedial measures set forth in the permanent injunction.

In addition, within 20 days after the district court’s order, the defendants are required to recall and destroy, under FDA supervision and to FDA’s satisfaction, all unapproved injectable skin whitening drugs.

“Distributing unapproved drugs and mislabeling them to give the impression that they have been approved by the FDA is a practice that cannot be tolerated,” said Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick, District of New Jersey. “This decree ensures that these products will be removed from the marketplace and that the defendants will not be allowed to distribute them until they bring the products into compliance with the law.”