DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
7 Results - Showing 1 to 7
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Graduates the Sixth Annual Citizens Academy Class in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Va., – The United States Drug Enforcement Administration is active in many local communities through Operation Engage, a comprehensive community-level approach to address the drug epidemic through prevention strategies, facilitating conversations, and collaboration with local partners. As part of this mission, Citizens Academies are held to connect field offices...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Virginia Veterinarian Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges

LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Madison Heights, Virginia man and former veterinarian pleaded guilty to a pair of misdemeanor drug charges related to his diversion of hydromorphone, an opioid drug also known under the trade name of “Dilaudid.” Patrick Gries, 54, pleaded guilty last week to one count of adulteration of...
PRESS RELEASE

Bowie Maryland Nurse Practitioner Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Dispense Oxycodone

Greenbelt, Md., – Justina Aburime, age 53, of Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense oxycodone and one count of distribution and dispensing of oxycodone. The guilty plea was announced by Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division; United...
PRESS RELEASE

MS-13 Members and Associates Indicted in Racketeering, Narcotics, and Multiple Murder Conspiracies

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today charging twelve members and associates of “La Mara Salvatrucha”, or MS-13, with a variety of offenses based on their involvement in racketeering, drug trafficking, and a series of murders. Those charged in the indictment are: Name Age Gang...
PRESS RELEASE

DC Man Sentenced for Multi-Kilogram Cocaine Conspiracy

AELXANDRIA, Va., - A Washington, DC man was sentenced yesterday to 70 months in prison for conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. According to court documents, since at least July 2019, Marcelin Saturne, 33, was a source of supply for multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine. Saturne acknowledged that...
PRESS RELEASE

25th Operation High Tide Defendant Sentenced for Drug and Gun Crimes

NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man, who was the 25th defendant associated with Operation High Tide, was sentenced today for his role in trafficking firearms and selling heroin. According to court documents, in 2017, Shon E. Melton, 32, of Portsmouth, was attributed with trafficking 19 firearms, including a concealable short...
PRESS RELEASE

Money Launderer and Wholesale Supplier of Narcotics to East Baltimore Monument Street Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison and Ordered to Forfeit $472,000

Baltimore, Md., – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Anton Williams, age 43, of Baltimore, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in the Monument Street area of East Baltimore; possession with intent...