'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli sentenced to seven years - BBC News - 0 views
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Martin Shkreli, the former drug firm executive found guilty of defrauding investors, has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
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He first became notorious in 2015 for hiking the price of a lifesaving drug.His lawyers had asked the judge to impose a sentence of 12 to 18 months, while prosecutors were seeking at least 15 years.
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In 2015 the youthful executive made headlines after he founded Turing Pharmaceuticals, bought the anti-parasitic drug Daraprim and raised its price by 5,000% to $750 (£540) per pill.
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"There are times when I want to hug him and hold him and comfort him and there are times when I want to punch him in the face," said Mr Brafman.
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The medication is used to treat Aids patients, the pregnant and elderly. Price gouging is not illegal or even unusual in the US pharmaceutical industry.
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Before his sentencing, Mr Brafman told the judge that Shkreli is a "somewhat broken" person who suffered from depression and an anxiety disorder.
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But a month later he offered social media followers $5,000 if they could bring him hair from former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who repeatedly criticised him during her campaign.