NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Long Island TikToker was charged on Wednesday for allegedly promoting and selling a range of misbranded and adulterated weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, to her social media followers which caused at least one buyer to develop a lifelong bacterial infection as a result of using these products, prosecutors said.
Isis Navarro Reyes, who also goes as Beraly Navarro, was changed with receipt of misbranded drugs in interstate commerce, dispensing misbranded drugs while held for sale, conspiracy to introduce and deliver for introduction misbranded drugs in interstate commerce, dispensing of misbranded drugs while held for sale, and smuggling, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams announced.
According to the complaint, Reyes allegedly administered weight loss drugs which were not approved by the FDA from November 2022 through January 2024, which she obtained from Central and South America, despite lacking the necessary license.
Reyes posted dozens of videos on TikTok about weight loss drugs including Ozempic, Axcion, and Mesotherapy, according to the complaint.
In her videos, she's shown displaying the drugs, telling viewers how often to use them, explaining how to take them, and saying she's sharing her own experiences, according to court documents. Plus, in several videos, she tells viewers to contact her using a number connected to an app "Cellphone" she shares on her profile if they want to buy the products.
On Oct. 11, 2023, Reyes posted a video about Ozempic in which she shows how to give yourself the injection and talks about her own experience with the drug. At the end, she tells viewers to contact her by Cellphone if they want her to get Ozempic for them.
In December 2023, an undercover officer began messaging Reyes on Cellphone. Reyes later allegedly exchanged several messages about her Ozempic and the undercover officer's interest in purchasing Ozempic from her. On Jan. 7, 2024, after receiving instructions from Reyes, the undercover officer sent $375 to a Zelle account in the name of "Isis Reyes Navarro." She does not ask for a prescription from the undercover officer and the undercover officer does not provide one.
A couple days later, the undercover officer receives a package from Reyes with the Ozempic drug.
According to the complaint, in November 2022, a TikTok follower called Reyes to order weight loss drugs. Reyes allegedly sold the victim 30 injections of Mesofrance without a prescription. Between February and June 2023, the victim self-administered 28 injections following Reyes's instructions.
The victim developed lesions in July 2023, and was later diagnosed with a mycobacterium abscessus infection. A doctor tested the drugs she used and confirmed the presence of mycobacterium abscessus in the Mesofrance purchased from Reyes.
"Reyes will be held accountable for her conduct, and criminals should think twice before trying to sell weight loss drugs without a license to do so," Williams said. "This case makes clear that extreme caution and physician consultation should always be taken when purchasing medications, especially on social media."
