Utah doctor indicted over China-sourced, relabeled peptides

A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment on April 1, 2026 against Justin Bradley Watkins, 39, a Utah-licensed osteopathic physician, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah announced.

An indictment is an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

What the indictment alleges

According to the DOJ release, Watkins obtained peptides from China through a middleman between February 2024 and April 2025, knowing they were not FDA-approved. The release lists orders including tirzepatide, semaglutide, retatrutide, cagrilintide, BPC-157, TB-500, ipamorelin, CJC-1295, GHK, GHK-Cu and NAD+.

Prosecutors allege he bought the products “at a deeply discounted price, and knew they were not backed by proper, reliable testing and clinical trials.” They also allege he made and attached his own labels to vials and pill bottles. None of those labels, the release says, “disclosed the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor, as required” by the FD&C Act. DOJ says he sold the products to more than 200 patients.

He is charged with receipt in interstate commerce and delivery for pay of misbranded drugs with intent to defraud or mislead, and aiding and abetting. The case was investigated by FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations and Utah’s Division of Professional Licensing.

Why the labeling detail matters

Misbranding under section 502 of the FD&C Act covers labels that are false or misleading or that leave out required information, such as who made or distributed the drug. That charge does not depend on whether a peptide was effective. Labeling and sourcing alone can be enough. The case is also a reminder that a licensed prescriber does not turn an unapproved, imported bulk peptide into a lawful drug. See 503A vs 503B compounding for the lawful pharmacy pathway.

We will update this article as the case proceeds.