California couple charged with medical device fraud

Two people in California marketing and selling unapproved medical devices were arrested and charged last week, according to a Mail Tribune report.

Husband and wife David Perez and Sandra Perez were arrested by the Medford office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and charged with conspiracy, sale of adulterated devices, sale of misbranded devices, acting to cause the shipment of adulterated or misbranded devices and making false statements, according to the report.

The couple allegedly sold $700,000 worth of medical devices treating a wide range of ailments, including ulcers and AIDS, under the brand name Energy Wave, according to the report.

The devices were allegedly manufactured in a co-conspirator's home, and were handheld devices made of a computer-controlled generator that connected to metal cylinders, according to the report. People who purchased and used the devices were allegedly given a list of "auto codes" that produced hundreds of digital settings directing the device to supposedly treat any number of ailments, according to the report.

Prosecutors allege Mr. and Ms. Perez registered their website in the Philippines and uploaded instructions for their phony devices on the Internet instead of including them in the box, which prosecutors say indicates the defendants' intent to hide the fraudulent activity, according to the report.

The defendants have been released from custody after posting bond, according to the report.

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