Federal prosecutors have charged a Chicago pharmacist for stealing official COVID-19 vaccination cards only to sell them online for $10 each.

The COVID-19 cards, which are issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were allegedly sold on eBay to at least 11 buyers in March and April after the vaccines were being widely distributed across the nation. Trangtang Zhao, 34, allegedly sold at least 125 of these authentic cards during that time.

Zhao worked at Company 1, an Illinois pharmacy where customers could come in and get their COVID-19 vaccine. The Justice Department explained that Zhao acted with intent and was charged with 12 counts of theft of government property because of his role in the scheme. The Department of Justice shared in a statement,

“Knowingly selling COVID vaccination cards to unvaccinated individuals puts millions of Americans at risk of serious injury or death.” They add, “To put such a small price on the safety of our nation is not only an insult to those who are doing their part in the fight to stop COVID-19, but a federal crime with serious consequences.”

Illegal Sale of Vaccine Cards on the Rise

These official COVID-19 vaccine cards have slowly cropped up over the past couple of months, especially considering how hotly contested the vaccine has been since its rollout. The DOJ has explained that obtaining a card under false pretenses is illegal, and if someone needs the card, then they will need to go forward with getting the shot in order to get one. The vaccine shot is currently free to all individuals across America who want it.

The sale of illegal COVID-19 cards has popped up on several online retail sites, including popular retailer for handmade goods, Etsy, as well as pro-Trump forums, and parts of the dark web.

An Amazon spokesperson shared with National Public Radio about the sale of vaccine cards, "We do not allow the products in question in our store. We have proactive measures in place to prevent prohibited products from being listed and we continuously monitor our store." The spokesperson adds, "In this case, we have removed the items and taken action on the bad actors involved in bypassing our controls."

The FBI has criticized the rise in fraudulently obtained vaccine cards, explaining that such cards are harmful to the American Public. Earlier this year, the FBI put out a public service announcement where they explained, “By misrepresenting yourself as vaccinated when entering schools, mass transit, workplaces, gyms, or places of worship, you put yourself and others around you at risk of contracting COVID-19."

As restaurants, airlines, and other businesses around the nation begin to require proof of vaccination in order to conduct business, it’s likely that these black market sales of authentic COVID-19 cards will continue to climb.

Lawmakers and officials have pushed back against this possibility as 47 members of the National Association of Attorneys General sent a request to the internet’s biggest retailers, including Shopify and eBay, to assist in putting a stop to illegal transactions of these cards. The letter, which was sent in April, explains, "The false and deceptive marketing and sales of fake COVID vaccine cards threatens the health of our communities, slows progress in getting our residents protected from the virus, and is a violation of the laws of many states."

Zhao is not the first perpetrator to make a quick buck out of selling authentic vaccine cards. In early May, California bar owner Todd Anderson was arrested for illegally selling authentic vaccine cards after undercover agents were able to purchase cards from him for $20 each.

In the case of Zhao, the pharmacist made his first appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila M. Finnegan on August 17. If he is convicted, he could face a sentence of ten years behind bars for each charge.