A medical device maker, Synthes Inc., and four of its executives were indicted Tuesday on federal charges that they improperly promoted a bone filler for purposes not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including encouraging its use in what prosecutors called “unauthorized” human trials.

“They put their profits ahead of responsible business practices and the truth,” Michael L. Levy, the United States attorney, said in a statement.

The four executives were charged with criminal misdemeanors involving the shipment of unapproved medical devices. Those charges carry a possible prison sentence of one year.

The company, which never reported the patient deaths to the F.D.A., also misled an agency inspector, prosecutors charged.

A lawyer for Mr. Huggins, Adam Hoffinger, would not comment. Efforts to reach the other men were not successful.