BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — Authorities say they uncovered a black market operation selling weight-loss drugs illegally from a home and clinics in Haywood County, Tennessee.
41-year-old Emily Arnold has been charged with Impersonating a Licensed Professional, Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Simulation, Money Laundering, and Selling a Legend Drug.
Johnie Carter, Director for West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force says agents served search warrants at a Medina home, seizing black market weight-loss drugs.
“Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, and Congrilitide. Evidence from the home shows the drugs were purchased from the black market and included a warning saying ‘not for human consumption,'” said Carter.
The investigation, began months ago, revealing Arnold was not only selling these drugs from her home but also supplying two weight loss clinics in different counties. Police raided two businesses connected to this incident Monday night. One in Medina and one in Brownsville.
Jason Williams, drug task force supervisor says the investigation started after they were given tips from individuals buying the drugs, concerned that they may have been committing a crime.
“The basis of the complaint most of the time was (People Saying) ‘Am I doing something wrong? I’m ordering weight-loss shots and picking them up off the front porch. I feel like I’m doing something wrong. I want to know if I’m doing something wrong.’ That’s what started our investigation,” said Williams. “From my understanding, they would purchase the drugs on Venmo, and she would put the drugs under her mat.”
Arnold is now free on a $100,000 bond and her next court date is January 29 at Humboldt General Sessions court.
Authorities urge anyone who purchased any of these drugs to contact [email protected]
