Washington DC – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host its 24th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 22nd, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event offers anonymous disposal of unneeded/ expired medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide. In partnership with local law...

CHICAGO — Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Field Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois announced the sentencing of a high-level member of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang to 120 months, plus eight years...

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman pleaded guilty in San Antonio federal court Thursday to distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death. According to court documents, Claudia Cardenas, 47, provided a man with a sample of fentanyl on May 8, 2022, allowing him to try the substance before...

Louisville, Ky. – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the State of West Virginia are hosting a discussion on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in Charleston, West Virginia on Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event will take place at the University of Charleston’s...

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Alfred A. Cooke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Drug Enforcement Administration-Merrillville, Indiana, and U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana announced that Marcel Toussaint, 37, of Fort Wayne, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty...

DENVER — The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that People’s Pharmacy, Inc. and its owner and pharmacist-in-charge, Mahnaz Abharian, have agreed to resolve allegations that the pharmacy unlawfully dispensed controlled substances, including dangerous opioids and drug combinations. People’s Pharmacy operated a pharmacy located in Lakewood...

INDIANAPOLIS - A joint investigation by Drug Enforcement Administration-Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) has led to the arrest of Zennon Gaines, a pharmacy technician from Indianapolis, who has been charged with multiple violations, including felony dealing and possession of a controlled substance by fraud/forgery. The joint investigation...

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Dr. George Barrio, a pain management physician who formerly practiced medicine at the NeuroMedical Institute in Panama City, agreed to pay $225,000 to resolve allegations that he unlawfully prescribed opioids and other controlled substances to patients. The settlement was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney...

Bozeman, Mont. – Rocky Mountain Division Diversion Investigator (DI) Aaron St. Peter was recently named “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” at the Montana Narcotic’s Officers Association (MNOA) Conference in Bozeman. DI St. Peter was nominated by a colleague from the Montana Department of Justice, Criminal Investigation Division (MT CID). The...

PEORIA, Ill. – Todd C. Smith, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at Drug Enforcement Administration-Chicago Field Division, and U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris for the Central District of Illinois announced that Keyshawn Q. Banks, 24, of Peoria, was sentenced on March 9, 2023, to 120 months of imprisonment, to be...