DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
9 Results - Showing 1 to 9
PRESS RELEASE

South Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in a Conspiracy to Distribute Protonitazene from China

MIAMI – A south Florida defendant pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a synthetic opioid, protonitazene. Will Catis, Sr. (Catis), 42, of Deerfield Beach, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal. According to the agreed upon factual proffer, on April 12, 2022...
PRESS RELEASE

First Regional Family Summit on Fentanyl Held in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – On October 19, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, in partnership with the State of Utah’s Office of the Attorney General and with the support of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, hosted a Family Summit for those who have...
PRESS RELEASE

South Florida Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Unlawfully Dispensing Narcotics

MIAMI – Dr. Ronald Lubetsky was sentenced this week to five (5) years in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks for unlawfully dispensing narcotics—specifically oxycodone and morphine. Lubetsky was convicted at trial in November on seven counts of unlawfully dispensing narcotics. Trial evidence showed that law enforcement learned...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Recognizes National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day

MIAMI – On Sunday, August 21, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will recognize National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day by joining the many voices dedicated to educating the public on the serious dangers of fentanyl poisoning from fake pills and other illicit drugs. DEA supports the efforts of several organizations...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Miami Field Division Warns of Alarming Increase in Suspected Fentanyl-Related Overdoses in Florida

MIAMI - Today, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division has issued a Public Safety Alert to warn Florida communities of the increase of mass-overdose events across the state suspected to be related to drug supplies laced with a synthetic opioid. While law enforcement agencies continue to investigate these...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Rolls Out Operation Engage

MIAMI - Today, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration launched a new comprehensive law enforcement and prevention initiative aimed at reducing drug use, abuse, and overdose deaths. “Operation Engage” allows participating field divisions to focus on the biggest drug threat and resulting violence in their respective geographic areas. The initiative...
PRESS RELEASE

Rawlins doctor pleads guilty to unlawful distribution of prescription pain pill

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Dr. David Ray Cesko, 66, of Rawlins, Wyoming, pleaded guilty on Feb. 26, 2020, in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne to multiple charges that, as a physician, he unlawfully distributed controlled substances, primarily opiates and benzodiazepines, to his patients. Cesko was charged by a Wyoming federal grand...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA announces results in massive statewide opioid sweep

MIAMI – DEA Miami Division Special Agent in Charge Adolphus P. Wright today announced the results of a three-day, statewide enforcement operation targeting opioids. The DEA-led surge brought together hundreds of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies throughout Florida. The operation targeted all levels of opioid distributors in the...
PRESS RELEASE

Large-scale poly drug trafficking organization dismantled in Colorado

DENVER – In December of 2018, the Longmont Department of Public Safety Special Enforcement Unit began looking into the drug distribution activities of Joshua Ward, who resided in the city of Longmont. Utilizing various law enforcement investigative techniques, Longmont SEU identified numerous subjects in the northern Colorado region who were...