ST. LOUIS – Rita Aramyan of Las Vegas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Aramyan appeared today before U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie L. White. Beginning in April 2013 and ending around May 2019, Aramyan was part of a drug trafficking organization that conspired to distribute...

ST. LOUIS – Gregory Simms, 33, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Simms appeared today, before U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie L. White. On June 13, 2020, St. Charles County police stopped Simms for driving a vehicle...

DEA Warning: Scammers Impersonating DEA Agents Are Stealing Identities, Money LOS ANGELES – The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public of a widespread fraud scheme in which telephone scammers impersonate DEA agents in an attempt to extort money or steal personal identifiable information. A new public service announcement aims...

Los Angeles – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Mexican national Juan Manuel Abouzaid El Bayeh (“Abouzaid El Bayeh”) as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). OFAC designated Abouzaid El Bayeh for his...

WICHITA, Kans. – The Drug Enforcement Administration Wichita Resident Office announced today the launch of Operation Engage, a new comprehensive law enforcement and prevention initiative aimed at reducing drug use, abuse, and overdose deaths. Operation Engage allows participating DEA divisions to focus on the biggest drug threat and resulting violence...

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. sentenced Keith Estep to 120 months in prison today. The 42-year-old House Springs, Missouri, resident pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with the intent...

LOS ANGELES – DEA Acting Administrator D. Christopher Evans today announced the release of the 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment, DEA’s annual publication outlining the threats posed to the United States by domestic and international drug trafficking and the abuse of illicit drugs. “This year’s report shows the harsh reality...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eight defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $4.1 million conspiracy to distribute more than 520 kilograms of methamphetamine. Tina Marie Bailey, 36, and Martin Lee Williams, 58, both of Kansas City, Mo.; Mark Williams Hildebrand II, 31, and...

ST. LOUIS – Maurice Woodson, 34, of St. Louis, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine; one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death; and one count of witness tampering. Woodson appeared today before U.S. District Judge Henry...

ST. LOUIS – In a complaint filed February 23, 2021, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, the government alleges Elizabeth Dembo unlawfully dispensed controlled substances to patients during her time as the pharmacist-in-charge of Olive Street Pharmacy, LLC. The retail pharmacy is located in the...