A married couple from Middlesex County marketed and distributed over $3 million worth of misbranded and unapproved drugs, according to guilty pleas announced Wednesday by U.S. Attorney Phillip Sellinger.

South Amboy residents Sylvia Kovaleski, 43, and Keith Kovaleski, 57, pleaded guilty this week and could spend up to five years in prison and pay a hefty fine.

As the operators of All American Peptide, officials said, the Kovaleskis sold prescription drugs, such as tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis, and peptides and SARMS, which are used as an alternative to steroids. In addition, the couple sold drugs that had not been approved for human use, such as clenbuterol, a drug sold in foreign markets.

Using their basement as a manufacturing facility, and mislabeling products as their own, the couple made capsules containing "significantly higher doses" of tadalafil than the highest recommended dosage, officials said. Also, the couple failed to provide adequate directions for their products, such as dosage information and warnings about the side effects.

As part of their plea deal, the Kovaleskis must forfeit more than $3 million in criminal proceeds. Sentencing is scheduled for July 26.

Dino Flammia is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dino.flammia@townsquaremedia.com

NJ arrests, sentences linked to Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot

More than 40 people from New Jersey or with NJ ties were charged with involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. On Jan. 20, 2025, Pres. Donald Trump issued a pardon, clearing legal consequences for convicted rioters, including those guilty of assaulting law enforcement officers.

Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt/Dan Alexander

How to get from Monmouth/Ocean to the Holland Tunnel without paying tolls

Sometimes even your GPS doesn't know the back way to certain places.

Gallery Credit: Joe Votruba

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM