SHREVEPORT, La. – William Earl Maddox, 73, of Haynesville, Louisiana, the Constable of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today to misbranding an illegal supplement.
Maddox was charged in a superseding indictment in September 2020 with selling
and misbranding illegal supplements online and in stores. At today’s hearing, he pleaded
guilty to a felony charge of misbranding of a drug while held for sale after shipment in
interstate commerce. In connection with his guilty plea, Maddox agreed to a forfeiture
judgment not to exceed $50,000 to the United States and agreed to sell real property in
Homer, Louisiana to satisfy that judgment.
According to information presented at the hearing, Maddox formed Middle
Marketing, LLC in 2011. Shortly thereafter, he began operating two websites,
www.sexassurance.com and www.middlemarketing.com, wherein he advertised for sale
capsules called “Sex Assurance.” Maddox described the capsules on his websites as a
“natural male enhancement solution.”
In 2017, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a package that was
shipped from Hong Kong and addressed to Maddox at his residence in Homer,
Louisiana. The parcel was inspected and found to contain 2,000 unlabeled blisterpackaged green capsules. The parcel was then referred to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA sent two letters to Maddox advising that the parcel had been detained for non-compliance with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and advising him of his right to respond regarding the admissibility of the capsules. Maddox did not
respond to either letter, and so the capsules were surrendered.
In January 2018, FDA agents conducted a controlled purchase of two packs of Sex
Assurance from Maddox’s website. An online receipt was issued that identified Middle
Marketing as the seller and provided the email address and phone number associated
with Maddox. A few days later, agents received a package shipped from Haynesville,
Louisiana, that contained a business card in the name of “William Maddox” along with
the two packs of Sex Assurance that were ordered. Both packs of Sex Assurance were
labeled “100% natural herbs.” The Sex Assurance capsules were submitted to the crime
lab for analysis and tested positive for sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. The
packs did not list sildenafil as an ingredient of the product, nor did it list any identifying
information of the manufacturer, packer or distributor.
In March 2019, agents executed a search warrant at Maddox’s residence. Agents
found thousands of green blister-pack capsules, Sex Assurance labels, packaged Sex
Assurance capsules, a computer, and other items to suggest Maddox packaged the
product from his home. Maddox is not a licensed practitioner, nor has he ever registered
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to manufacture and distribute drugs as
required by 21 U.S.C. § 360.
The defendant, William Earl Maddox, faces a sentence of not more than three years
in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Sentencing has been set for December 10, 2021.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy is prosecuting the case.