A Florida grand jury indicted 19 pharmaceutical wholesalers Monday on charges they intentionally diluted prescription medications, mislabeled drugs and filled bottles with fake ingredients before attempting to sell them to common pharmacy chains. Authorities say the scheme, which has allegedly been ongoing for the last several years, profited the accused tens of millions of dollars.

The medical community reacted with anger at news of the indictments because many of the charges involve life-saving cancer and HIV medications. Charges filed include conspiracy, racketeering and prescription drug fraud. Investigators with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have yet to determine if any of the medications actually reached large chains, but officials admitted that a small percentage may have.

Recent legislation has made penalties much stricter for wholesalers who dilute medications. Defendants now face life in prison if a diluted medication leads to a serious injury or death. Each count against the 19 wholesalers carries a maximum sentence of between 5 and 30 years in prison.