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US pharmacist jailed for deadly outbreak

US pharmacist Glenn Chin was handed down an eight year jail sentence for his role in a deadly meningitis outbreak that ultimately killed 76 people.

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Source: AAP


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The pharmacist convicted in connection with a deadly 2012 meningitis outbreak has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Glenn Chin sobbed on Wednesday as he struggled through his statement during his sentencing hearing in Boston's federal courthouse. The outbreak killed 76 people and sickened hundreds.

Chin said he has prayed every day for the people who were impacted by the outbreak. Chin understood many of the victims will never forgive him, but said he will continue to pray that they will "find some sort of peace".

Victims of the outbreak and their family members on Wednesday described the pain and suffering they experienced because of the contaminated drugs at a sentencing hearing.

The Massachusetts man was cleared in October of second-degree murder under federal racketeering law.

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Nearly 800 people were sickened in what is considered the worst public health crisis in recent US history.

The meningitis infection was traced to contaminated steroid injections given mostly to people with back pain.

Throughout Chin's trial, prosecutors portrayed him as a callous employee who cut corners and ignored warning signs that the pharmacy's production methods were unsafe in order to boost production and profits.

Chin's attorneys argued that he didn't deserve more time behind bars than the pharmacy's co-founder Barry Cadden, who's serving a nine-year sentence for his role in the outbreak.

Jurors acquitted Cadden of second-degree murder under the federal racketeering law but found him guilty of fraud and conspiracy.

Chin had been charged with the deaths of 25 people in Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. He would have faced up to life in prison had he been convicted of the murders.


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