EL PASO – Today federal authorities arrested 60-year-old Dr. Brian James August of El Paso for allegedly committing health care fraud and distributing controlled substances that resulted in the overdose deaths of five individuals. A 15-count federal grand jury indictment, unsealed upon his arrest, charges Dr. August with five counts...

EL PASO – DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day collected 829,543 pounds (419.7 tons) of unused, expired, and unwanted medications across the country. The El Paso Field Division collected 7,903 pounds of that grand total. Americans once again showed their dedication toward helping prevent addiction and potential overdose by...

EL PASO – Today the Drug Enforcement Administration announced a new initiative, Project Wave Breaker, to disrupt the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States. Project Wave Breaker will direct interdiction, enforcement, and outreach efforts to the El Paso Division to disrupt the flow of fentanyl in and around...

EL PASO – With opioid overdose deaths increasing during the pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration is holding its 20th Take Back Day on Saturday, April 24. DEA’s October 2020 Take Back Day brought in a record-high amount of expired, unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to 500...

MIDLAND, Texas - A federal judge sentenced the last of six defendants who were operating a methamphetamine distribution ring throughout the Odessa area. The judge sentenced 42-year-old Jeremy David Farley, aka “Biker,” to 30 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute approximately 27 kilograms of methamphetamine throughout the Odessa...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Fred J. Federici has announced that Centurion Correctional Healthcare New Mexico has agreed to a $215,000 settlement relating to civil claims brought by the Department of Justice on behalf of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Centurion...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Fred J. Federici has announced that Albuquerque Health Services (AHS) has agreed to a $240,000 settlement relating to civil claims brought by the Department of Justice on behalf of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). AHS operates...

EL PASO - A federal judge in El Paso sentenced 34-year-old Daniel Leal yesterday to 87 months of imprisonment for cocaine trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff; FBI Special Agent in Charge Luis Quesada, El Paso Division; and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Kyle Williamson, El...

EL PASO - A federal judge in El Paso sentenced 53-year-old Gerardo Paz to 190 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for methamphetamine trafficking and assaulting his co-defendant while in custody, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff; FBI Special Agent in Charge Luis Quesada, El Paso...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today the United States Drug Enforcement Administration launched a new comprehensive law enforcement and prevention initiative aimed at reducing drug use, abuse, and overdose deaths. “Operation Engage” allows participating field divisions to focus on the biggest drug threat and resulting violence in their respective geographic areas. The...