Biomet Goods Found In Indy Warehouse
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Indianapolis police Friday seized between $2.5 and $3 million in stolen orthopedic equipment.
Most of the equipment, which included artificial hips, knees, tools and other related hardware, was diverted from a Biomet distributor in Florida to the warehouse near 86th Street and Zionsville Road, in northwestern Indianapolis.
A Biomet official originally alerted the Marion County prosecutor about their suspicions. Less than one week later, detectives uncovered the warehouse. Biomet officials were present when a search warrant was served to seize the items, which were in their packaging.
The two men who rented the warehouse where the supplies were found own International Medical Commerce, but the prosecutor isn't sure whether they knew the merchandise was stolen. An Internet advertisement for International Medical calls it a reseller of bulk surgical orthopedic instruments and implants. Its Indianapolis phone number was disconnected.
Biomet sells its products through authorized distributors that hire salespeople to market the products to hospitals, and would not go through a "reseller" to market their devices. Biomet has no relationship with International Medical.
Although the detectives and the prosecutor have some leads, no specific information is available on who they are or exactly how the thefts took place. Some of the equipment seized appeared to have expired "use by" dates, and there was concern about any patients who might receive the stolen implants.
Biomet is cooperating with the investigation, but a representative said no additional information is available at this time.
Reports say police also found about $1 million worth of supplies from Johnson & Johnson, but there was no information on what kind of J&J supplies were involved and no indication of any involvement with DePuy, a division of J&J. They still are investigating to see if they also were stolen. [[In-content Ad]]
Indianapolis police Friday seized between $2.5 and $3 million in stolen orthopedic equipment.
Most of the equipment, which included artificial hips, knees, tools and other related hardware, was diverted from a Biomet distributor in Florida to the warehouse near 86th Street and Zionsville Road, in northwestern Indianapolis.
A Biomet official originally alerted the Marion County prosecutor about their suspicions. Less than one week later, detectives uncovered the warehouse. Biomet officials were present when a search warrant was served to seize the items, which were in their packaging.
The two men who rented the warehouse where the supplies were found own International Medical Commerce, but the prosecutor isn't sure whether they knew the merchandise was stolen. An Internet advertisement for International Medical calls it a reseller of bulk surgical orthopedic instruments and implants. Its Indianapolis phone number was disconnected.
Biomet sells its products through authorized distributors that hire salespeople to market the products to hospitals, and would not go through a "reseller" to market their devices. Biomet has no relationship with International Medical.
Although the detectives and the prosecutor have some leads, no specific information is available on who they are or exactly how the thefts took place. Some of the equipment seized appeared to have expired "use by" dates, and there was concern about any patients who might receive the stolen implants.
Biomet is cooperating with the investigation, but a representative said no additional information is available at this time.
Reports say police also found about $1 million worth of supplies from Johnson & Johnson, but there was no information on what kind of J&J supplies were involved and no indication of any involvement with DePuy, a division of J&J. They still are investigating to see if they also were stolen. [[In-content Ad]]