OMAHA, Nebraska— The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is kicking off Red Ribbon Week, Friday, October 23, with multiple buildings and bridges across the five state Omaha Division lighting up red to recognize the nation’s oldest and largest drug misuse prevention awareness program. Red Ribbon Week began following the death of...

CHICAGO – Robert J. Bell, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Chicago Division, announces the Red Ribbon Celebration during the week of October 23-31, which coincides with DEA’s 19 th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 24, 2020. Red Ribbon Week raises awareness...

MADISON, Wis. – Robert J. Bell, DEA Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Division, and Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Travis Hanson, 40, Eau Claire, Wisconsin was sentenced on Friday, September 25, 2020 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 10...

TERRE HAUTE – DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon said, “On September 15, 2020, an alert citizen noticed six duffle bags in the grass area off of Interstate-70 East by mile marker 37 (halfway between Terre Haute and Indianapolis, Indiana). Upon receiving the information, members of the Putnam...

MILWAUKEE – At a press conference in Milwaukee today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced updates on Operation Legend. He was joined by Robert J. Bell, DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division, and Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, who...

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Robert J. Bell, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Division, and United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler, announced the dismantling of a drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of illegal drugs into southwest Indiana. Eleven defendants were indicted by a grand jury in Evansville...

On September 4, 2020, Robert J. Bell, DEA Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Division, announced that on July 8, 2020, U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing the launch of Operation Legend, a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law...

CHICAGO— Two men have been charged in federal court with looting three pharmacies in Chicago. William Lorenz, 40, of Chicago, and Ivan Bermudez, 42, of Chicago, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit burglary involving a controlled substance. Bermudez was arrested Tuesday. He is scheduled to make...

SOUTH BEND, Ind.- Robert J. Bell, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Division, and United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II announced Jamar Sims, age 27, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio upon his plea of guilty to...

MINNEAPOLIS – Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents from the Minneapolis/St. Paul District Office are reporting a significant increase in counterfeit pills entering Minnesota from drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) in California, Arizona and Mexico. In Minnesota, agents have recovered approximately 46,000 counterfeit pills during the first seven months of 2020, nearly...