Boston Herald

NECC boss cleared in deaths

Jury convicts Cadden of racketeeri­ng, fraud

- By JORDAN GRAHAM — jordan.graham@bostonhera­ld.com

The former president of the New England Compoundin­g Center — who oversaw the Framingham pharmacy when tainted drugs killed 64 people and infected hundreds more with meningitis — was found not guilty yesterday on 25 counts of second degree murder but was convicted on 57 other charges, including many that could carry a stiff jail sentence.

“Murder is the worst crime known to humanity, and it is a terrible injustice that Barry Cadden was labeled with this charge by the government for more than two years,” Cadden’s attorney, Bruce Singal, said after the verdict. “We are deeply grateful that the jury saw it that way and vindicated Mr. Cadden on all 25 of the murder charges.”

In 2012, batches of tainted drugs distribute­d by NECC sickened more than 750 people nationwide and killed 64 others in nine different states.

Acting U.S. Attorney William Weinreb called the case “a national tragedy.”

“The tainted drugs distribute­d on Mr. Cadden’s watch caused the largest public health crisis in this country ever by a pharmaceut­ical drug,” Weinreb said. “He used NECC to perpetrate a mass fraud that harmed hundreds of people — and the jury saw through that fraud.”

Cadden was convicted on 52 charges including mail fraud, racketeeri­ng, and racketeeri­ng conspiracy, which carry a 20-year maximum sentence. Cadden was also convicted on three counts of sending misbranded drugs across state lines, charges that carry a maximum sentence of three years. It’s unclear whether Cadden will serve those consecutiv­ely or concurrent­ly. He will be sentenced June 21. Cadden sat unmoving in federal court yesterday as the clerk read the jury’s findings, and was allowed to remain free until he is formally sentenced.

After the hearing, Cadden hopped over a snowbank and rushed into a waiting car to avoid reporters.

Glenn Chin, a former supervisor­y pharmacist at NECC, is also facing murder charges, and will be tried next month.

 ?? STAFF PHOTOS BY PATRICK WHITTEMORE ?? TRIAL’S END: Former New England Compoundin­g Center president Barry Cadden, above right, leaves federal court in Boston yesterday ahead of his lawyer, Bruce Singal. Below, Acting U.S. Attorney William Weinreb talks about the tainted-drugs case, calling...
STAFF PHOTOS BY PATRICK WHITTEMORE TRIAL’S END: Former New England Compoundin­g Center president Barry Cadden, above right, leaves federal court in Boston yesterday ahead of his lawyer, Bruce Singal. Below, Acting U.S. Attorney William Weinreb talks about the tainted-drugs case, calling...
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