There Are 2 Martin Shkrelis in Court

The other Martin Shkreli is charged with running guns
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 6, 2017 7:33 AM CDT
There Are 2 Martin Shkrelis in Court
Former pharmaceutical company CEO Martin Shkreli, right, walks out of federal court with members of his legal team, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017, in New York. Jurors were on their fourth day of deliberations on Thursday at the securities fraud trial of the former pharmaceutical company CEO.    (Julie Jacobson)

A defendant in a money laundering case has at least two things in common with "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli—the same name and the same judge, reports the AP. The other Martin Shkreli pleaded not guilty Friday in the same New York courtroom where the former pharmaceutical CEO was waiting for a verdict in his securities fraud trial. His doppelganger wasn't there at the time. The odd coincidence wasn't lost on the 59-year-old Shkreli No. 2, who smiled and shook his head when asked about his counterpart. He said he had no interest in being that "famous."

The elder Shkreli is accused of money laundering to the tune of $800,000, and being involved in a gun-running scheme; he's charged as one of eight men who allegedly sold firearms including AK-47s and a rocket launcher to feds, reports the New York Daily News. Prosecutors have accused the more notorious of the two Shkrelis of deceiving investors in two failed hedge funds. The 34-year-old "Pharma Bro" is best known for raising the price of a life-saving drug by 5,000%. (More Martin Shkreli stories.)

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