Feds Case Against FedEx Over Alleged Illegal Drug Shipments Collapses

The federal government’s case against FedEx Corp. over allegations of illegal shipments of online prescriptions collapsed last week, as prosecutors asked the judge to dismiss the charges before the case even went to trial.

The judge in the case — which carried a potential $1.6 billion in fines — even “voiced skepticism about the case”, calling it a “novel” prosecution, reports Bloomberg. U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer expressed doubts that prosecutors could even produce proof that the company knew of the illegal drugs shipments.

“It’s probably too much to hope that a chastened Justice Department will agree to pay FedEx’s legal fees, and Ms. Haag (the former federal prosecutor who now works at a private law firm) owes FedEx an apology,” writes the Wall Street Journal editorial board. “But at least for once an innocent business can point to a complete vindication.”