Benzoboy Sentenced to Two Years: Inside the Case of Counterfeit Xanax Distribution

A Sullivan man, Brandon Adams, 27, was sentenced this week in federal court in St. Louis to two years in prison and  supervised release for three years, accompanied by a $10,000 fine and forfeiture of nearly $1 million. Adams, known as "Benzoboy," admitted to manufacturing and distributing millions of counterfeit benzodiazepine pills, particularly Xanax, from October 2019 to May 2021.

Adams operated his illicit business on the dark web, utilizing a pill press capable of producing over 16,000 pills per hour at a lake house outside of Sullivan. The case involved a collaborative effort from various agencies including the FBI, DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and local law enforcement, particularly the Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit .

Although investigators couldn't directly link Adams to local overdoses, there were suspicions based on circumstantial evidence. Lt. Biser noted instances where individuals overdosed on what they believed to be Xanax but were actually consuming pills containing fentanyl, emphasizing the dangers of counterfeit drugs.

The investigation uncovered Adams' evasion tactics, including the use of encrypted messaging apps, cryptocurrency transactions, and shipping methods under fake identities. Several co-conspirators, including Maximillian Verbowski and Matthew Prunty, were implicated and faced legal consequences.

Sheriff Pelton underscored the international scope of the operation, emphasizing the syndicate's reach extending beyond Franklin County. He emphasized the significance of partnerships between local and federal agencies in combating such criminal activities.

Chris Crocker, acting special agent in charge of the FBI St. Louis Division, echoed concerns regarding counterfeit drugs, emphasizing the risks they pose to consumer health due to evading regulatory oversight.

Adams, recognized as a top Xanax vendor, faced allegations from numerous users who claimed an exit scam following the bust.