What happened in Purdue's 2007 criminal case?
Purdue pleaded to a felony; three executives to misdemeanours. Together they paid $634.5 million — about 90% of OxyContin profits during the offence period — with executives receiving three years' probation and 400 hours of community service. None went to prison.
The Purdue Frederick Company pleaded guilty to a felony charge of misbranding OxyContin with intent to defraud or mislead, and three executives, including the president, chief legal officer and former chief medical officer, pleaded guilty to misdemeanours. Together they paid $634.5 million. The US Attorney testified that the company's payment represented about 90% of its profit on OxyContin during the offence period, and that the executives received three years' probation and 400 hours of community service. They pleaded only as "responsible corporate officers," without admitting personal knowledge of the misbranding. OxyContin sales continued to grow afterwards, which critics later cited as evidence that the penalties had not changed the company's behaviour.