LEXINGTON, Ky. - In early 2015, as part of a comprehensive approach to combat the opioid epidemic facing the state of Kentucky, the United States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA) established an Overdose Prosecution Initiative, which has become an important tool in the battle against illegal drug...

WASHINGTON - The Drug Enforcement (DEA) announced several marijuana- related actions, including actions regarding scientific research and scheduling of marijuana, as well as principles on the cultivation of industrial hemp under the Agricultural Act of 2014. DEA Publishes Responses to Two Pending Petitions to Reschedule Marijuana - DEA has denied...

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills, many containing deadly amounts of fentanyl and fentanyl-related compounds, have made their way into the U.S. drug market, according to a DEA intelligence report released today. Law enforcement nationwide report higher fentanyl availability, seizures, and known overdose deaths than at any...

DETROIT - A medical doctor has been sentenced on charges of unlawfully distributing prescription drug controlled substances, including the Schedule II prescription drug (oxycodone), and health care fraud, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today. McQuade was joined in the announcement by the Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge...

DETROIT - A Detroit Police Lieutenant and a second police officer from the now-disbanded Narcotics Unit of the Detroit Police Department were convicted today by a federal jury in Detroit on charges of robbing drug dealers and stealing drugs and money obtained in police searches, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Thomas A. Coates, 30, formerly of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of racketeering conspiracy. Coates was originally scheduled to stand trial on July 11th, 2016, in the second of three trials involving the organized criminal enterprise known as the Short North...

MARQUETTE, Mich. - U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced today that Damon Ramone Belcher, 43, of Detroit, Michigan, Corrie Venta Ruth, 36, of Flint, Michigan, and Stephanie Rae Hatch, 41, of Lake Linden, Michigan, were sentenced to prison by U.S. District Judge R. Allan Edgar for their roles in...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Lance Green, 36, formerly of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering. Green was scheduled to stand trial on July 11 in the second of three trials involving the organized criminal...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Tysin L. Gordon, 30, of Columbus, was sentenced to 96 months in prison in connection with a racketeering case involving the organized criminal enterprise known as the Short North Posse. Benjamin C. Glassman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy J. Plancon, Special...

WASHINGTON - The United States Drug Enforcement (DEA) released the 2016 National Heroin Threat Assessment Summary - (NHTA) today. The report outlines the expanding public health crisis afflicting America due to the use and abuse of heroin and other opioid drugs. Some key facts: The number of people reporting current...