A Chicago pharmacist arrested on suspicion of selling hundreds of COVID-19 CDC Every $10 vaccination card on eBay, Ministry of Justice Announce.
On Monday, 34-year-old Zhao Tangtang was detained and charged with 12 counts of theft of government property. Zhao appeared before the U.S. District Judge Sheila M. Finnegan of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on August 17 for a preliminary hearing. If convicted, he will face up to 10 years in prison.
Court documents show that between March 2021 and April 2021, Zhao allegedly sold 125 COVID-19 CDC vaccination cards to 11 different buyers on eBay, each charging $10. Zhao is a licensed pharmacist in Illinois and works in Company 1, which is a pharmacy that distributes and manages COVID-19 vaccines. According to the CDC guidelines, Company 1 provided a CDC vaccination record card to each vaccinator.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Pollet Jr. of the Criminal Division of the Ministry of Justice said that Zhao’s crimes are being thoroughly investigated in court.
“We take it seriously and will actively investigate any criminal offenses that lead to distrust of vaccines and vaccination status,” Xiao Manner said in a statement. “The Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting the American people from these crimes during a national emergency.”
The agent in charge of Emmerson Buie Jr. FBIThe Chicago field office stated that due to the ongoing pandemic, Zhao’s crimes put millions of Americans at risk.
“Knowingly selling COVID vaccination cards to unvaccinated individuals puts millions of Americans at risk of serious injury or death,” Little Bouy said in a separate statement. “Paying such a small price for the safety of our country is not only an insult to those who do their part to stop COVID-19, but also a federal crime with serious consequences.”
Agents of Lamont Pugh III, the head of the Chicago Department of Health and Human Services, emphasized the importance of obtaining COVID-19 vaccination cards only from healthcare providers.
“Stealing and selling COVID-19 vaccination cards is unforgivable and will not be tolerated,” Pugh said in a press statement. “Fraudsters who engage in such illegal activities undermine efforts to respond to the pandemic, and at the expense of the public interest. The health and safety of the public is our top priority,” Pugh said.
