HOUSTON – Another alleged associate of one of the most serious transnational organized criminal organizations will make his initial appearance in U.S. federal court today on charges of distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Michael Don Robertson, 68, a former Anchorage psychiatrist, was sentenced on January 6, 2021, by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason to 12 months home confinement and five years of probation for conspiracy to commit controlled substance fraud and one count of health care fraud. Robertson...

LAREDO, Texas – Two South Texas men have admitted they organized the smuggling of approximately 170 kilograms of marijuana from El Cenizo to Laredo, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Roberto Chavarria, 38, pleaded guilty today, while his...

SEATTLE - The U.S. Department of Justice and Bartell Drug Inc., today resolved allegations that, between July 2016 and August 2020, the pharmacy chain filled invalid prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Under the terms of the settlement, Bartell Drug will pay the government an $800,000 fine. Bartell...

SEATTLE – Eleven people have been indicted by a grand jury sitting in the Western District of Washington for a multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy. One of those indicted is a rap artist from Snohomish County, Washington, who discussed his drug trafficking activity in a documentary video. All of those in...

HOUSTON – As part of its continuing efforts to reduce drug misuse and overdose, the Drug Enforcement Administration is launching a winter campaign urging the public to “Secure Your Meds.” The current health crisis has magnified the importance of addressing the issue of controlled prescription drug misuse. With Americans spending...

WASHINGTON – A Houston-area pain clinic owner and a clinic employee who posed as a physician were sentenced to 240 months and 96 months in prison, respectively, today for their roles at a “pill mill” where they and their coconspirator illegally prescribed hundreds of thousands of doses of opioids and...

Federal, state and local authorities have arrested eight individuals on federal drug trafficking charges, including 41-year-old Texas Syndicate Lieutenant Hilario Nieto who previously received a pardon from President Barack Obama, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, Houston Division; U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer...

Federal, state and local authorities have arrested 13 individuals, including current and former University of Texas (UT) students, charged in connection with trafficking LSD, fentanyl and methamphetamine pills to UT students in Austin. That announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent...

SEATTLE - Eight people who were charged in a wide-ranging drug investigation that resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of suspected fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine were arrested earlier today. All those arrested appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle today. “The rising numbers of fentanyl overdoses is on the...