CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Purdue Pharma has entered a guilty plea to three federal felony charges in connection with the opioid crisis.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday announced a series of actions related to the plea, including a federal settlement worth more than $8 billion, dissolution of the company and reorganizing Purdue Pharma as a public benefit company.
The Sackler family, who own the company who makes OxyCotin, are not exempt from criminal liability, and a related investigation continues.
Purdue Pharma will plead guilty to counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violating federal anti-kickback laws. The company is admitting to falsely stating it had an effective anti-diversion program as well as making payments to doctors to write prescriptions of Purdue’s opioid drugs.
Purdue Pharma will have to pay a $3.5 billion criminal fine and $2 billion in criminal forfeiture. Money will also go toward assisting drug treatment programs.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he is hopeful the settlement will assist people impacted by the misuse of opioids.
“The opioid epidemic has ravaged West Virginia and much of America, claiming innocent lives and hurting our friends, family and neighbors,” he said.
“Purdue Pharma produced and sold opioids knowing they were highly addictive and harmful without caring about the consequences. They lied to the American people for a profit. There is no amount of money that can bring back the West Virginians whose lives were lost because of Purdue Pharma.”