One dietary supplement was marketed to insomniacs as a healthy way to get a good night of sleep, a pill made of all-natural ingredients that included figwort root and licorice. When FDA regulators tested the pills, however, they found that there was an anti-psychotic drug, an anti-depressant, and a sleep drug in those pills. An investigation showed that the maker of the drug, who called himself a doctor, was not one. He was a chiropractor until he lost that license upon being charged with grand theft and insurance fraud.

This was just one of the many unsettling stories behind various dietary supplements, stories published December 20, 2013, sharing the recent investigation conducted by USA TODAY. Consumers are trusting so-called medical professionals with their health when it comes to taking these dietary supplements, when in fact, these drug makers have a history that includes drug and weapons crimes.

For example, one Arizona company that has a number of accolades to its name was found to have tainted sexual enhancement supplements, which had to be recalled by the FDA. The owner of this company has two drug convictions to his name, including a conviction of possession of crack cocaine and methamphetamines.

Another company had to have their products recalled by the FDA, as they were found to have pills laced with steroids and a supplement that had anti-estrogen drug as an ingredient. Sure enough, it was found that a few years before, the president of that company was charged with three felony drugs charges, which included the use of steroids.

At a Florida vitamin company, the proprietor passed himself off as a doctor, even though his only license was for massage therapy. The FDA found that a product of his was tainted, and he has been charged with unlicensed practice of the health care profession. The CEO of another company was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon when he used a machete to hit the side view mirror of a parked car. One of his products had been inspected by the FDA and was recalled because it was contaminated. Yet another proprietor had been convicted of theft and despite a lack of any medical license, had people call her "Doctor". The FDA found that she had spike a weight loss supplement with a drug that was removed from the U.S. market after it was found to increase the risk of a heart attack and stroke.

These are just a few examples out of the 100 companies that were discovered to have churned out supplements laced with other drugs, sometimes even dangerous supplements. No less than 14 of these companies were being managed by people who had a criminal record that was made up of more than traffic infractions. But this does not show the full picture. The FDA has a list of companies that were found to market contaminated supplements; 123 companies are on the list for 460 tainted products found. But for 150 of these products, there is no manufacturer listed next to them. Sometimes this is because it was uncertain who was actually behind the supplements.

The problem of dangerous and illegally marketed drugs occurs much too often, frighteningly so. Whenever someone wrongly markets a drug, or wrongly prescribes a drug that injures someone, that person may have grounds to file a medical malpractice suit. Find out more about medical malpractice and pharmacy malpractice claims when you contact a legal expert today, before your case expires. You can find the experienced medical malpractice lawyer you need on our directory today.