Aloe Vera Case to be Re-Tried 28177

Aloe Vera Case to be Re-Tried

BALTIMORE, Md.--A federal jury reached a deadlock over 19 counts ofconspiracy, selling an unauthorized drug and wire fraud in a trial accusing abusinessman of selling AIDS and cancer patients an expensive aloe vera solutionmarketed as a cure. Allen J. Hoffman of Baltimore sold "T-Up" for morethan $75 a bottle and some physicians offered a $12,000 two-week course ofintravenous treatment. In the United States, it is illegal to sell aloe vera forintravenous use. Hoffman claimed he did not intend the intravenous treatment tobe used by U.S. citizens.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia Evans, Hoffman was acquitted onone count of mail fraud, but due to the deadlock on other pending charges, thecase will be re-tried. Hoffman and Neal Deoul, T-Up's other principal, werefined $3.7 million during a Maryland state administrative hearing; the statedemanded that they stop making efficacy claims for the product. Hoffman andDeoul are appealing the state's decisions.