A Columbia County woman has been sentenced to federal prison for her involvement in a wire fraud conspiracy and the illegal dispensing of animal drugs. Samantha Miller, 55, received a sentence of 37 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The amount of restitution she must pay will be determined later.
Hannah Horsley, Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit for the District of Oregon, stated, "Today’s sentence should make it clear to others engaged in unconscionable conduct that it will not be tolerated and they will be held responsible for their crimes."
Robert Iwanicki, Special Agent in Charge at the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations in Los Angeles, emphasized the FDA's role in regulating animal drugs: "We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who criminally attempt to evade the law."
Court documents revealed that between November 2019 and January 2021, Miller and her associates used their business Woofin Palooza, LLC to acquire animals with health and behavioral issues from out-of-state shelters. These animals were offered for adoption without proper veterinary care. Instead, Miller attempted to treat them herself using prescription animal drugs without veterinary supervision.
Miller operated under the alias "Mandy Myers" and advertised on websites like Woofin Palooza and Petfinder with misleading information about the animals' conditions. Adoptive pet owners were misled about health issues and sometimes received repackaged prescription drugs without a veterinarian's order. This led to unexpected veterinary expenses for many victims.
On February 7, 2024, a federal grand jury charged Miller with multiple counts including conspiring to commit wire fraud and misbranding drugs. She pleaded guilty on October 24, 2024.
The investigation was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Trisotto and Meredith D.M. Bateman for the District of Oregon.