RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Today, a federal indictment was unsealed charging 44 defendants in a major operation aimed at disrupting drug and gun crimes in Pope and Yell Counties. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on October 3, 2017, and was unsealed today following a coordinated roundup of...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Christopher Grant Watson, 44, of Perryville, a former pharmacist and owner of Perry County Food and Drug Store, will be spending the next 10 years in federal prison, announced Stephen G. Azzam, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement (DEA) New Orleans Division, Patrick C...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A former lead technician at a central Alabama pharmacy was charged today with tampering with vials of opioid painkillers used in the compounding of intravenous fluid bags intended for hospice and homecare patients, announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bret Hamilton, U.S. Attorney Jay...

BATON ROUGE, La. - Four defendants - two from Baton Rouge and two from California - were sentenced to federal prison terms for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy involving shipments of heroin from California to Baton Rouge, announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A Birmingham man pled guilty today in federal court to selling heroin last year that caused the death of one person and seriously injured another, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bret Hamilton and U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town. Michael Dewayne “Big Boi”...

NEW ORLEANS - On August 17 a federal jury convicted Dan Pizzaro, 48 and a resident of California, for his role in conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and heroin in the New Orleans area, announced DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen G. Azzam, and Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Following a four...

SHREVEPORT, La. - Today, a federal jury found a Texas man guilty of conspiring to transport methamphetamine and cocaine, announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Brad L. Byerley and Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. Erasmo Aviles Jr., 35, of Spring, Texas, was found guilty of one count...

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Twenty-six suspected drug traffickers with ties to East Alabama were arrested in a joint federal, state, and local narcotics investigation, announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam and A. Clark Morris, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. Thirteen suspects were...

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. - Today, the simultaneous unsealing of 25 federal indictments charging 43 defendants in a major operation aimed at curbing drug trafficking and gun violence in West Memphis and Crittenden County. The indictments were returned by a federal grand jury on July 6, 2017 and July 11, 2017...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Today three indictments charging 24 defendants in schemes intended to divert pharmaceutical pills to the streets were unsealed, announced Stephen G. Azzam, Special Agent-in-Charge of DEA’s New Orleans Field Division which oversees DEA’s Little Rock District Office, and Patrick C. Harris, Acting United States Attorney for...