United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MIAMI – Seven individuals, listed below, were arrested in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties in connection to the operation and dismantlement of a large-scale prescription drug distribution organization: Olga Alterman, 49; Ronald Diaz, 46; Alexander Grichener, 65; Roman Grichener, 37; Vera Orenshteyn, 48; William Washington, 58; and Alberto Zisman...

SAVANNAH, Ga. – A physician with clinics in Pooler, Ga., and Braselton, Ga., was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for illegally prescribing drugs to non-patients. Dr. Johnny Di Blasi , 46, of Braselton, Ga., was sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to...

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Five men and a woman have been indicted in federal court, charged with operating a wide-ranging drug conspiracy that included mass production of pills and possession with intent to distribute a powerful synthetic opioid. As outlined in the six-count indictment in U.S. District Court and from testimony...

Jacksonville, Fla. – Lonnie Jack Trowell, 31, of Lake City, Fla., was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Trowell had pleaded guilty on March 15, 2019. According to...

Tampa, Fla. – Thirteen individuals have been sentenced in connection with their involvement in an interstate cocaine distribution conspiracy. During the investigation of this case, law enforcement seized more than seven kilograms of cocaine; nine firearms, including an assault rifle and shotgun; hundreds of rounds of ammunition; approximately $40,000 in...

ATLANTA – Yadira Gomez-Gonzalez has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Gomez-Gonzalez is the last of three defendants whose drug ring was infiltrated by undercover DEA agents when they attempted to send nearly 14 kilograms of 100 percent pure methamphetamine from California to Georgia...

ATLANTA – Dr. Arnita Avery-Kelly, a licensed podiatrist, has been found guilty on federal charges of illegally prescribing opioid painkillers and other drugs at clinic locations purporting to provide podiatric care in Sandy Springs and Lithonia, Ga. “While in the midst of this country’s prescription opioid crisis, removing and ultimately...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chief U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced today David Flores, 35, of Dallas, Texas, to 121 months in prison and five years of supervised release on drug conspiracy charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Andrew Murray. DEA Atlanta Division Special Agent...

Tallahassee, Fla. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging eight defendants with 83 counts of federal dogfighting offenses stemming from an investigation into drug trafficking and a large-scale illegal dogfighting operation involving approximately 100 dogs. Most of the dogs used by the defendants were recovered by...

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Renewed action to scrutinize shipments into the growing Port of Savannah have led to significant recent drug seizures, including two arrests and more than 20 kilos of cocaine seized in a weekend raid at an Augusta warehouse. Jimmy Alexander Pujols, 35, and Fausto Mendez Ramos, 40, are...