Braswell Fined
The heavy fines came after the FTC determined that Braswell's claims were "misleading, false and unsubstantiated". In addition to the fines, Braswell must surrender 3.5 million dollars in assets and is "banned from marketing food, unapproved drugs, and dietary supplements".
Braswell Banned
When the FTC shut-down Braswell's activities, he had already been under another consent decree for violating the FTC Act. Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection stated: "We charged Braswell with peddling empty promises to consumers battling serious illnesses. This settlement will prevent him from profiting from these sorts of deceptive claims in the future, and deter others who may think they can get away with similar practices."
Braswell's Claims
Braswell was selling his supplements through direct mail advertising, preying mostly on seniors, claiming his supplements were "medical breakthroughs". He falsified "expert" endorsements and "misrepresented the results and applicability of scientific studies".
What You Should Do If You're A Victim
If you have purchased any of the supplements marketed by Braswell, you can file a complaint, or to get information by calling toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or you can use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov.
Source: http://www.ftc.gov
Published: 01/04/06
