[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3776-3777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1489]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0592]


Yuri Izurieta: Debarment Order

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an 
order under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) 
debarring Yuri Izurieta for a period of 20 years from importing 
articles of food or offering such articles for importation into the 
United States. FDA bases this order on a finding that Mr. Izurieta was 
convicted of six felony counts under Federal law for conduct relating 
to the importation into the United States of an article of food. Mr. 
Izurieta was given notice of the proposed debarment and an opportunity 
to request a hearing within the timeframe prescribed by regulation. As 
of November 10, 2011 (30 days after receipt of the notice), Mr. 
Izurieta had not responded. Mr. Izurieta's failure to respond 
constitutes a waiver of his right to a hearing concerning this action.

DATES: This order is effective January 25, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit applications for termination of debarment to the 
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 
5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenny Shade, Division of Compliance 
Policy (HFC-230), Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., 
Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 796-4640.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 306(b)(1)(C) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335a(b)(1)(C)) 
permits FDA to debar an individual from importing an article of food or 
offering such an article for import into the United States if FDA 
finds, as required by Section 306(b)(3)(A) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 
335a(b)(3)(A)), that the individual has been convicted of a felony for 
conduct relating to the importation into the United States of any food.
    On May 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the 
Southern District of Florida, Mr. Izureita was convicted of one count 
of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, in violation of 
18 U.S.C. 371, and five counts of smuggling goods into the United 
States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 545. The United States District Court 
for the Southern District of Florida entered judgment against Mr. 
Izurieta on July 29, 2011.
    FDA's finding that debarment is appropriate is based on the felony 
conviction's referenced herein for conduct relating to the importation 
into the United States of any food. The factual basis for these 
convictions is as follows: As alleged in the indictment that was filed 
against Mr. Izurieta, beginning on or about April 18, 2007, and 
continuing through about December 23, 2010, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 
371, Mr. Izurieta knowingly, and with the intent to further the object 
of the conspiracy, conspired with others to commit an offense against 
the United States--to fraudulently and knowingly import and bring into 
the United States merchandise contrary to law, in violation of 18 
U.S.C. 545. Specifically, Mr. Izurieta conspired to distribute and sell 
imported dairy products that FDA had detained after receiving notice 
from FDA that the dairy products were suspected to be adulterated.
    Mr. Izurieta worked at Naver Trading Corp., a registered Florida 
corporation engaged in the business of importing and distributing food, 
including dairy products, in local and interstate commerce. While 
working there, Mr. Izurieta caused dairy products and other food to be 
imported from Honduras and Nicaragua. Despite requests from FDA, Mr. 
Izurieta failed to disclose the location of shipments of dairy products 
after learning that FDA had slated specific shipments for examination 
due to concerns of adulteration with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus 
aureus, and Salmonella. Mr. Izurieta also distributed shipments of 
dairy products after learning that FDA had slated specific shipments 
for examination due to concerns of adulteration with E. coli, S. 
aureus, and Salmonella. Mr. Izurieta failed to redeliver for 
destruction and exportation shipments of dairy products that FDA had 
determined to be adulterated with E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella, 
and that were not authorized for entry into the United States. Mr. 
Izurieta then imported and distributed dairy products that were 
adulterated and not authorized for entry into the United States. This 
conduct was in violation of 18 U.S.C. 545.
    From approximately April 18, 2007, and continuing to approximately 
December 7, 2010, Mr. Izurieta fraudulently and knowingly imported and 
brought into the United States merchandise contrary to law. Further, 
Mr. Izurieta failed to redeliver, export, and destroy with FDA 
supervision the dairy products and other food products contained in 
these shipments after receiving notice from FDA regarding concerns 
about the adulteration of these products with E. coli, S. aureus, and/
or Salmonella.
    As a result of his conviction, on September 28, 2011, FDA sent Mr. 
Izurieta a notice by certified mail proposing to debar him for a period 
of 20 years from importing articles of food or offering such articles 
for import into the United States. The proposal was based on a finding 
under section 306(b)(1)(C) of the FD&C Act that Mr. Izurieta was 
convicted of six felony counts under Federal law for conduct relating 
to the importation into the United States of an article of food because 
he conspired to commit offenses related to the importation of dairy 
products into the United States and imported and brought into the 
United States merchandise contrary to law. It was also based on a 
determination, after consideration of the factors set forth in section 
306(c)(3) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335a(c)(3)) that Mr. Izurieta 
should be subject to a 20-year period of debarment. The proposal also 
offered Mr. Izurieta an opportunity to request a hearing, providing him 
30 days from the date of receipt of the letter in which to file the 
request, and advised him that failure to request a hearing constituted 
a waiver of the opportunity for a hearing and of any contentions 
concerning this action. Mr. Izurieta failed to respond within the 
timeframe prescribed by regulation and has, therefore, waived his 
opportunity for a hearing and waived any contentions concerning his 
debarment (21 CFR part 12).

II. Findings and Order

    Therefore, the Director, Office of Enforcement, Office of 
Regulatory Affairs, under section 306(b)(1)(C) of the FD&C Act, and 
under authority delegated to the Director (Staff Manual Guide 1410.35), 
finds that Mr. Yuri Izurieta has been convicted of six felony counts 
under Federal law for conduct relating to the importation of an article 
of food into the United States and that he is subject to 20 years of 
debarment.
    As a result of the foregoing finding, Mr. Izurieta is debarred for 
a period of 20 years from importing articles of food or offering such 
articles for import into the United States, effective (see DATES). 
Pursuant to section 301(cc) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 331(cc)), the 
importing or offering for import into the United States of an article 
of food by, with the assistance of, or at the direction of Mr. Izurieta 
is a prohibited act.

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    Any application by Mr. Izurieta for termination of debarment under 
section 306(d)(1) (21 U.S.C. 335a(d)(1)) of the FD&C Act should be 
identified with Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0592 and sent to the Division of 
Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). All such submissions are to be 
filed in four copies. The public availability of information in these 
submissions is governed by 21 CFR 10.20(j).
    Publicly available submissions may be seen in the Division of 
Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    Dated: January 11, 2012.
Armando Zamora,
Acting Director, Office of Enforcement, Office of Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-1489 Filed 1-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-P