A licensed pharmacist was arrested on August 17, 2021 in Chicago on charges related to his alleged sale of several authentic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination cards on eBay.
According to court documents, in March and April 2021, Tangtang Zhao, 34, of Chicago, sold 125 authentic CDC vaccination cards to 11 different buyers for approximately $10 per card. Zhao was a licensed pharmacist in Illinois and was employed at Company 1, a pharmacy which distributed and administered COVID-19 vaccines at its physical locations nationwide. As required by the CDC, Company 1 provided a CDC Vaccination Record Card to each vaccine recipient. Zhao, who worked at Company 1 as a pharmacist during that time, obtained and subsequently offered authentic CDC vaccination cards for sale online. The indictment charges Zhao with 12 counts of theft of government property.
Zhao is charged by indictment with 12 counts of theft of government property. Zhao made his initial court appearance on Aug. 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila M. Finnegan of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 10 years in prison per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Leslie S. Garthwaite of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
George W. Bodenger, Esquire Law Offices of George W. Bodenger, LLC 575 S. Goddard Blvd, #213 King of Prussia, PA 19406 Office (610) 212-5031 Fax – (484) 416-0229