Sunnyvale man sentenced to prison for involvement in same drug network as San Jose police union director

"SAN JOSE A Sunnyvale man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for distributing various prescription drugs through the same Indian telemarketing network that the former San Jose Police Officers Association executive director was busted for using, court records show. Rajiv Agnihotri, 44, was sentenced on Nov. 25 by U.S. District Judge Casey Pitts. Prosecutors sought a prison term for Agnihotri, who they say imported"

"Agnihotri's lawyer argued the two cases were similar enough that Agnihotri shouldn't receive more than 366 days, in jail, arguing in a sentencing memo that Agnihotri made about $20 for every package of drugs he received in the mail and that he was basically trying to help Americans save money on their prescriptions. His conduct reflects the broader problem of limited access to affordable medication rather than a conventional drug enterprise, Assistant Federal Public Defender Varell Fuller wrote in court filings."

"Fuller also argued that Agnihotri's severe childhood trauma should earn him more mitigation, writing that he grew up amid political violence in India, witnessed domestic violence in his home, and was stabbed amid a political dispute as a young man. Agnihotri came into the United States from Mexico through a deadly jungle corridor and got involved in the drug network when a co-worker offered him an opportunity to earn extra money by receiving and forwarding prescription medications, the defense sentencing memo says."

Rajiv Agnihotri, 44, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison on Nov. 25 for distributing prescription drugs imported from an Indian telemarketing network known as Durgapura Pharmacy. Prosecutors say he imported tens of thousands of pills, including generic Ambien and Xanax, through online sales. The same network was used by Joanne Segovia, who received probation for importing painkillers. The defense argued Agnihotri earned about $20 per package and sought a shorter sentence, citing limited access to affordable medication and Agnihotri's severe childhood trauma and dangerous migration into the United States.

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