Twitter erupted after former drug co. CEO Martin Shkreli was found guilty on three of eight criminal charges.
Seemingly everyone had an online opinion Friday after «Pharma Bro» Martin Shkreli was found guilty of three criminal charges in an attention-grabbing trial that began in June.
The former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals is probably most well-known as the exec who in 2015 ordered a 5000% price hike on a prescription drug to treat an illness that afflicts AIDS patients and others with weakened immune systems.
This case, for which the trial began on June 28, was over allegations that Shkreli defrauded investors in two hedge funds he’d managed. He was also charged with repaying the investors with money looted from Retrophin, a pharmaceutical company he founded and headed. However, jurors found him not guilty on that charge.
Shkreli had primed the social network pump, taking to Twitter Thursday during the third day of jury deliberations, tweeting, «Cmon gimme dat verdict.»
When the verdict came in Friday afternoon, an outpouring of commentary ensued. U. K.-based commenter «@1andrewfenton» suggested that prison guards charge Shkreli $1,000 per pill «if he goes to jail and requests an aspirin for a headache.»
Similarly, college teacher «@BenjaminJS» predicted the prison commissary might inflate the cost of shower sandals: «That’ll be $700.»
An administrative professional who uses Twitter name «@icterid» joked that Shkreli would be working at the White House soon, » trolling a Shkreli post on Facebook last week that he was «in for comms director» after Anthony Scaramucci’s short stint in that White House post.
Also chiming in after the verdict, Lauren Duca, a freelance journalist whose TeenVogue opinion piece critical of President Trump caught the attention of Shkreli. Twitter suspended his account in January after Duca complained he had harassed her.
«*~*And in the end, the only person Martin Shkreli wound up f—ing was himself.*~*» she tweeted .
Last week, Shkreli had called out Duca in a Facebook Live video last week, saying that, «Trial’s over tomorrow, b——. And if I’m acquitted, I get to f— Lauren Duca, » calling it «just my fantasy.»
Duca’s response on Twitter: «So much as touch me, and I’ll gladly chop off one of yours.»
Shkreli has maintained a presence on Twitter, using another account «@SamTheManTP» and has been active on YouTube, too. On a live YouTube chat begun soon after his return from the courthouse — with 3,500 viewers at one point — he predicted a light punishment. Shkreli echoed that on Twitter, saying, «Uh I’m guessing none on the short side 6 months long side.»
Artist «@jamesharveytm» tweeted a collection of courtroom drawings and the observation that «they had search high and low to find a jury who don’t hate Martin Shkreli. The sketch artist? Not held to the same standards.»
Poking fun at another of Shkreli’s outlandish actions — paying a reported $2 million for the lone copy of a Wu-Tang Clan album — the online news site Mashable tweeted that fans of the hip-hop act «everywhere rejoice.»
And someone — Twitter user «@Only4RM» — even opined on the eventual movie about Shkreli’s story and the actor who should play the role: Paul Dano.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider .
