The OK Male Clinic guaranteed customers they could take back their sex lives.
“One appointment will change your life forever,” it boasted on its website. “Bring Back the Romance For Good. Visit Our Clinic Today!”
Federal prosecutors say the north Oklahoma City clinic was operating illegally — dispensing misbranded drugs without valid prescriptions “with intent to defraud or mislead.”
The clinic collected $786,832 in sales in the almost five months it was in operation, according to court records.
The company, The Oklahoma Male Clinic Inc., was charged Wednesday in Oklahoma City federal court with a felony. The company could be fined $500,000 if found guilty of dispensing misbranded drugs.
Two men allegedly involved with the company were charged with a misdemeanor. They were identified as Michael Schlueter, 53, and Thomas Variola, 53. Prosecutors said they live outside of Oklahoma.
Schlueter has lived in recent years in Florida, records there show.
The maximum penalty for the misdemeanor misbranded drugs offense is a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. Their attorney, Susanna M. Gattoni, of Oklahoma City, declined to comment.
Company closed
In a related civil action, the federal government on Thursday asked a judge to allow it to take $165,281 of the company's income.
A special agent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that money is subject to seizure and forfeiture because it could be traced as coming from unlawful, fraudulent activity.
The company opened on Oct. 1 and shut down after a federal raid Feb. 22.
“It purports to be a medical clinic specializing in male sexual dysfunctions,” FDA Special Agent Lee Roediger reported.
The agent, who questioned clinic employees, reported that a typical customer had a severe dysfunction that could not be treated by well-known drugs such as Viagra.
