ATLANTA - Abuse of pain medications like oxycodone continues to plague Georgia communities at epidemic levels and now accounts for six times more deaths than all of the traditional illegal drugs combined. The United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Georgia has enhanced its prosecution efforts on the...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A federal grand jury in Nashville, Tenn. returned a 23-count indictment on June 25, 2014, charging 22 individuals with various offenses relating to a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of heroin and fentanyl in the Middle Tennessee area, Northern Alabama and St. Louis, Missouri, announced David Rivera...

ATLANTA - Jason Elledge, who schemed to obtain controlled substances from local pharmacies, has pleaded guilty to impersonating a federal officer, making false statements to law enforcement, and attempting to obtain fraudulent prescriptions. Harry S. Sommers, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “DEA is...

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Charles Anderson, an attorney in Anderson, S.C. and a former Anderson city council member, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michelle Childs to serve five months in prison on obstruction charges, announced Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - On June 25, 2014, The Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, Port St. Lucie Resident Office assisted the Port St. Lucie (PSLPD) Special Investigation Division execute a search warrant on a suspected marijuana “Shatter” processing house located at 2024 SW Savage Boulevard, Port St. Lucie...

TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Arley Fernando (34, Colombia) to 25 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and conspiracy to do the same, in violation of...

TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Jose Samir Renteria-(51, Cali, Colombia), a/k/a “Jose Morfi,” to 27 years in federal prison for conspiring with others to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Renteria-Cuero pleaded...

ATLANTA - Jason Cole Votrobek and Roland Rafael Castellanos, owners of the “Atlanta Medical Group,” have been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, respectively. Both Votrobek and Castellanos were convicted on March 26, 2014, after a month-long jury trial on federal drug and money laundering charges for owning and...

TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich yesterday sentenced Alex Gonzalez-(39, Buenaventura, Colombia) to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Gonzalez-Arango pleaded guilty on...

MIAMI - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Ryan P. Lynch, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector (HHS-OIG), and George L. Piro...