Prosecutors say 43-year-old Baruch Feldheim hoarded the supplies
in order to take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis and was selling them to doctors and nurses at prices as much as 700% above market value.
When
FBI agents confronted Feldheim on Sunday about the sales, he allegedly coughed in their direction and told them he had coronavirus.
Feldheim was charged with assault of a federal officer, as well as lying to investigators for allegedly deceiving them when they asked him about the equipment. Feldheim has not yet entered a plea to the charges but his attorney told ABC News in a statement that he "categorically denies" the allegations by DOJ.
"He's not charged with hoarding or price gouging," lawyer James Moriarity said in a statement. "He's charged with lying to a federal agent and coughing in his direction. He categorically denies these charges."
According to HHS, Feldheim will be paid at market value for the equipment being distributed to the New Jersey Department of Health, the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The quick distribution of the materials, which typically would be processed and held as evidence for longer period, was made possible after HHS invoked emergency authorities under the Defense Production Act.