MADISON, Wis. – Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Bell, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Chicago Division and Acting United States Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea announced that David E. Eckerle, M.D., a Madison, Wisconsin physician, entered into a settlement agreement to pay $110,000 to resolve civil allegations that he violated...

CHICAGO - Robert J. Bell, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois announced, a federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted five suspected associates of the Sinaloa Cartel on...

CHICAGO – DEA Acting Administrator D. Christopher Evans and DEA Chicago Division Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Bell 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...

SAN DIEGO – With opioid overdose deaths increasing during the pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced its 20th Take Back Day scheduled for April 24. At its last Take Back Day in October, DEA collected a record-high amount of expired, unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to...

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Bell, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Chicago Division, announced that the DEA Merrillville District Office, with assistance from the United States Marshal Service, arrested Nurse Practitioner (N.P.) Chijioke Richard Jimonu, 63, of Hammond, Indiana, for illegally prescribing controlled substance medications. N.P. Jimonu...

MADISON, Wis. – Robert J. Bell, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration- Chicago Division and Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Phillip Thomas, Madison, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 100 months...

CHICAGO – Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Bell, Chicago Field Division announced the expansion of Operation Crystal Shield. This expansion includes the designation of two additional methamphetamine “transportation hubs” in 2021. Through this effort, DEA is attacking the entire supply chain, locating and seizing meth...

MADISON, Wis. – Robert J. Bell, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration – Chicago Division and Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jeffrey Costillo, 33, Blaine, Minnesota, and Denise Kraimer, 27, Columbia Heights, Minnesota, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge William...

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Robert J. Bell, Special Agent in Charge Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Chicago Division and Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that seven defendants have been charged with offenses related to a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of cocaine...

FOND DU LAC, Wis. - Robert J. Bell, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Chicago Division and Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 5, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted John D. Whelan (age: 74), a psychiatrist, and...