Posted on 10/29/2005 12:12:36 PM PDT by kinghorse
Man Charged In Fake Flu Shot Case Shots Contain Purified Water
POSTED: 4:56 pm CDT October 28, 2005 UPDATED: 5:15 pm CDT October 28, 2005
HOUSTON -- A man was charged Friday, accused of intentionally administering fake flu shots to hundreds of ExxonMobil employees, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Iyad Abu El Hawa, 35, is accused of attempting to defraud Medicare by giving fake flu vaccines, according to U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg. Officials said El Hawa substituted a purified form of water for the vaccine.
Investigators said the bogus flu shots were given at an ExxonMobil health fair on Oct. 19 and 20 at the Baytown refinery. About 1,100 people received them.
According to court papers, El Hawa admitted to giving the fake shots to the ExxonMobil employees and also to 14 senior citizens at a La Porte nursing home last Friday.
He also told federal agents he had done it other times, as well, officials said.
"This is a callous and disturbing crime. Mr. El Hawa purposely put at risk many, many people. He put at risk those who thought they were being inoculated against the flu, but in fact, were not. He also put at risk those who received a fake vaccine and those for whom that provide care," Rosenberg said.
El Hawa is the owner of Comfort & Care Home Health, 10101 Harwin, and operates two other facilities -- America Home Health and Universal Home Health Care Services.
He was arrested and placed in federal custody Thursday night. If convicted, El Hawa faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. More charges could be filed, prosecutors said.
Officials said the case came to light when a nurse called the FBI after El Hawa's employees were unable to supply a lot number for the vaccine.
It's like ho hum, large portion of employees at the largest Oil Refinery in NA given fake flu vaccination. There's no way ample time has passed to know with any degree of certainty what pathogens or other substance were present in the solution for these Authorities to be declaring it nothing more than "purified water". This is big news being hushed up for some peculiar reason. For instance nowhere can I find that picture of this guy to post. Not a nice fellow.
Where is FR on this important story. Are we too concerned about scaring people from getting their flu shot to adequately cover this thing.
Everyone needs to see this guys perp walk that's been running on local Houston news!!!
Wow, prolly a fake name, in Urdu, Hawa means wind.
Spooky story.
Because his hame isn't Billybob!
Kudos to him for the attempted placebo effect. and we don't see his face because he's probably Irish.
Ping people on this please. We need to get the word out on this developing story. Because it's so sensitive to the pharma industry and something as sensitive as dissuading people from getting a flu shot is it getting less coverage? Coupled with the fact he's Arab and what you start to wonder what the hell is going on here?
Come on we need this to get out there for the Freeper patrol to work!
I swear this place has just become a jokester blog. I promise you the enemies of the US people aren't joking.
Pinged.
The title you created has been changed to reflect the original published title.
Please use original titles to avoid duplication. Thanks.
You want to see some ACTION on this? Start up a class action lawsuit against ExxonMobil for medical malpractice.
John Edwards will be moving to Texas to chase after THAT ambulance.
Talk about PC.
Headline ought to be:
Arab Man charged.....
Or American of Arab descent......
Yes, it's pertinent and important, regardless if the guy's a jihadi or not.
are you suggesting we take the likes of the antics of the wacko left and murderous mentally deranged people who want Islamic world domination more seriously? Farrakhan, sharpton, pelosi, durbin Iran's wonderful new president?
I don't disagree with you at all, but don't misread a silly post. Behind all of mine (usually) is a raging hatred of these types, including those who support them. We need to do like Australia, Ireland, Britain and openly declare that if you don't want to be an American first, then you are not welcomed here and you will leave one way or the other..
or..Clancy again causes potential history.
The field nurse said she became suspicious after an office employee complained of being exhausted from filing syringes all shift. I thought protocol was to extract the serum from the vial when the shot is administered.
Also they local news said the perp was caught attempting to dispose of around 40 syringes when the feds showed up. Nothing much else is being reported down here in the rump of the media. In Manhattan this would being getting 24/7 coverage.
Lemme guess...he's an Iriah Catholic who happens to hail from the PA territories, right?? /sarcam tag for the slow
This is outrageous! There could have been ~anything~ in those shots... prayers for those people... and for some way of better oversight on vaccinations...
This was just reported on WBZ radio, Boston, by a CBS reporterette.
The perp is only charged with Medicaid fraud regarding the 14 nursing home patients. NO charges yet for the 1,000+ fake Exxon flu shots!
The fact that he admitted to having done this "other times as well" is keyphrasing implying other charges are pending. The b@stard will probably plea deal and still get off with a wrist slap though.
And the AP story posted on the WBZ Web site doesn't even mention the perp's name!!
http://wbz1030.com/health/health_story_301130438.html
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.