FedEx, after being indicted last year in connection with a Justice Department investigation on illegal drug shipment, has claimed that it should not be prosecuted on the grounds that its actions are protected under federal law.
The shipping company is currently facing charges of money laundering and delivering drugs for online pharmacies to customers who were not prescribed the medication. According to Bloomberg, FedEx is also accused of knowing its actions violated federal state and drug laws.
An indictment filed in August said that FedEx, along with supposed co-conspirators, “knowingly and intentionally” delivered the illicit pharmaceuticals and planned to launder more than $630,000 in shipping payments from the illegal drug sales.
FedEx claims that it cannot be expected to know the contents of the millions of packages handled each day, and whether or not a package contains an item that may violate a federal, state or local law.
During a filing in San Francisco on March 25, FedEx said that Congress exempted carriers such as FedEx that transport pharmaceutical shipments from enforcement schemes to avoid disrupting business.
A hearing on FedEx’s movement to dismiss the case is scheduled for May 13. If FedEx is found guilty of the charges, it and alleged co-conspirators could face a fine of twice the gains from the illegal action, which is estimated to be at least $820 million.
