A Long Island TikTokker, Isis Navarro Reyes, also known as Beraly Navarro, has been apprehended by federal prosecutors for allegedly selling bacteria-tainted weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, Mesofrance, and Acxion. The Manhattan US Attorney’s Office revealed that Reyes imported these popular weight loss medications from Central and South America and promoted them on TikTok through numerous videos between November 2022 and January 2024.
According to the criminal complaint, the weight loss drugs sold by Reyes were not approved by the FDA for sale in the United States. Furthermore, Reyes did not possess a license to sell drugs and did not require prescriptions from her buyers. Through her TikTok account, “beralyreyes88,” Reyes showcased the drugs, provided instructions on their usage and administration, and claimed to share her personal experiences with them, including their side effects and effectiveness.
Reyes openly shared her cellphone number in the videos, encouraging viewers to contact her if they wished to purchase the drugs. However, one victim from White Plains, New York, suffered from lesions after injecting herself with 28 doses of Mesofrance purchased from Reyes. The drugs were found to be contaminated with bacteria, leading to the victim’s infection and subsequent diagnosis of mycobacterium abscessus.
Reyes came under scrutiny earlier this year when she sold Ozempic to an undercover agent for $375. The agent had contacted her via cellphone and made the payment through Zelle before receiving the package. Reyes did not request a prescription from the agent, nor did the agent provide one.
During an interview with federal authorities on February 15, 2024, Reyes admitted to selling Ozempic she obtained from El Salvador on five occasions after advertising them on TikTok. She also confessed to purchasing Mesofrance through Facebook but claimed to have stopped selling it due to its illegal nature.
Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the severity of Reyes’ actions, stating that her unlawful distribution of these drugs caused significant and life-threatening injuries to some victims. This case marks the first instance involving the misbranding and adulteration of Ozempic.
Reyes is scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court on charges of smuggling, receipt of misbranded drugs in interstate commerce, dispersing of misbranded drugs while held for sale, conspiracy, and related crimes. If convicted on all six counts, she could face up to 25 years in prison.
Reyes’ criminal defense attorney has not yet responded to requests for comment.
In April, TikTok announced stricter measures against influencers promoting weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The platform has changed its policy to prohibit the sharing of before-and-after photos, effective this month.
2 Responses
Wow, this is such an important piece of news that needs to be shared! I will definitely be sharing this post on my social media accounts to help spread the word and raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit weight loss drugs. It’s crucial that we protect ourselves and our loved ones from such scams. Thank you for bringing this to our attention!
As a blog commenter, I would like to recommend that readers always be cautious when purchasing any kind of weight loss drugs or supplements. It is essential to prioritize your health and safety above all else. Instead of relying on potentially harmful products, I suggest considering a more natural and sustainable approach to weight loss, such as maintaining a balanced diet and engaging in regular exercise. Remember, there are no shortcuts when it comes to achieving long-term health and well-being.