WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration today announced the launch of an enhanced system to help more than 1,500 registered drug manufacturers and distributors nationwide more effectively identify potential illicit drug diversion and combat the opioid epidemic. On Oct. 24, 2018, President Trump signed into law the “Substance Use–Disorder Prevention...

CHICAGO - The former owner of a Chicago medical clinic admitted in federal court today that he sold opioid prescriptions to patients whom he knew lacked a legitimate medical need for the drugs. MOHAMMED SHARIFF, who owned Midtown Medical Center in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, conspired with a physician to sell...

CHICAGO - A LaSalle County physician was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison for illegally dispensing prescription medications, including opioids, in exchange for cash or sex. Constantino Perales, M.D., illegally prescribed oxycodone and Xanax to a patient, Andrew Strandell, knowing that Strandell would sell the pills on the...

DETROIT - The Drug Enforcement Administration and United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan today announced that the University of Michigan Health System has agreed to pay the United States $4.3 million as part of a settlement resolving allegations that UMHS violated certain provisions of the Controlled...

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - A federal jury in Brooklyn today, following two weeks of trial, convicted Dr. Martin Tesher of 10 counts of unlawful distribution of oxycodone without legitimate medical purpose to five patients, one of whom died as a result two days after his last visit with the defendant. When...

TAMPA, Fla. – Jeffrey John Abraham (52, formerly of Tampa) has pleaded guilty to distributing controlled substances not specified in his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration. He faces a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing date has not yet been set...

RENO, Nev. - Dr. Robert Gene Rand, a Reno physician who operated Rand Family Care, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter of a patient and unlawful distribution of oxycodone. This sentence is the result of an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Rand, 54...

ATLANTA, Ga. - Cathine Lavina Sellers of Roswell, Georgia, has been arraigned on federal charges of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and two synthetic opioids, furanyl-fentanyl and U-47700. A search warrant affidavit in the case alleges that Sellers was selling counterfeit 30mg (oxycodone) pills out of her residence...

RENO, N.V. - Local physician Dr. Robert Rand pleaded guilty today to involuntary manslaughter of a patient and unlawful distribution of oxycodone to another patient, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Miranda Du...

LUBBOCK, Texas - Sidney Caleb Lanier, 36, and Jamie Marie Robertson, 32, both of Lubbock, Texas, were sentenced this morning before Senior U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, announced Clyde E. Shelley, Jr., the Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas...