Tallahassee, Fla. – Fairley Trey Pitts, 35, of Perry, Fla., was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of...

Washington, D.C. — The Justice Department, together with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), today announced a $50 million settlement with Walmart Inc. (Walmart) to resolve allegations that Walmart pharmacies illegally filled thousands of invalid prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). “This...

A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl for importation into the United States, and conspiracy to distribute listed chemicals for the unlawful importation of a controlled substance. “For years, Ojeda Elenes manufactured and imported enormous quantities of fentanyl often using precursor chemicals obtained from...

Fort Myers, Florida – Miguel Lauzado Hernandez (37, Naples) has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. Hernandez pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, on September 12, 2024, Hernandez sold approximately one...

MIAMI – Five defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to import thousands of kilograms of cocaine into South Florida aboard sport fishing vessels from the Dominican Republic. According to court records, Andy Gabriel Mercedes-Hernandez, 32; Jesus Alberto Salcedo-Perez, 32; Keisy Estibet Peguero, 38; Enmanuel Amauris Rivera-Cabrera, 32; and Mario Joel Rijo-Jimenez...

MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Steve Michael Kelley, 58, a former nurse who worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, was indicted by grand jury for one count of obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge. His initial appearance was...

Tallahassee, Fla. – Andy Dean Biggs, 63, of Marianna, Fla., was sentenced to forty-five months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of marijuana. The sentence was announced by...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – José Julio Rodríguez-Cumba, also known as “Chambi,” “Chembi,” “Josué,” “Chambo,” and “Patrón,” was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Pedro A. Delgado to 360 months (30 years) in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for operating a continuing criminal enterprise responsible for...

CONCORD, N.H. – Massachusetts pharmacist Rima Gerges-Maalouf, 60, pleaded guilty in Federal Court to diverting controlled prescription drugs while working as a pharmacist in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. As set forth in the plea agreement, in August 2024, Gerges-Maalouf served as a per diem pharmacist at a...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A North Carolina physician has been sentenced to prison for conspiring to allow his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number to be used for thousands of unlawful buprenorphine prescriptions, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell...