United States Drug Enforcement Administration

TAMPA, Fla. - Vistapharm, Inc. has agreed to pay the United States $325,000 to resolve allegations that Vistapharm violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by failing to maintain records required by the CSA. In addition to paying a civil penalty, Vistapharm has agreed to sign separately a Memorandum of Agreement...

ORLANDO, Fla. - Antonio Walthour (28, Clarksville, TN) was sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Walthour pleaded guilty on January 16, 2020. According to court documents, this investigation began in February 2016 in response to a fatal drug overdose occurring...

ESTHERVILLE, IOWA - An Estherville, Iowa, police officer is being honored by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for his commitment to reducing drug abuse. The recipient of the Enrique S. Camarena Award is Captain Nathaniel Dunlavy...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Armando Arizmendi-Garcia, 24, Bianey Gonzalez-Arizmendi, 28, and Oscar Daniel Martinez-Nunez, 21, have been charged with conspiring to distribute over 30 pounds of crystal methamphetamine. The three defendants are Mexican nationals. Two of the defendants made their initial appearances today in federal magistrate court in West...

OMAHA, Neb. – United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Reiko Elio Penunuri, 42, of Arizona, was sentenced January 13 in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for use of facilities in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering. A cellular phone is a “facility” as used...

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Gerry F. Carter, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday to a total of 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and weapons charges stemming from an organization that distributed methamphetamine in North Florida. “Drug traffickers have one thing in common: They...

FARGO, N.D., – On January 7, Drew Wrigley, U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota, announced charges against 26 defendants involved in Operation Blue Prairie, a drug pipeline connecting individuals in Detroit, Michigan, to the Spirit Lake, Turtle Mountain and Fort Berthold Indian Reservations in North Dakota. Drug Enforcement...

OMAHA, Nebraska – As part of its continuing efforts to reduce drug misuse and overdose, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is launching a winter campaign urging the public to “Secure Your Meds.” The current health crisis has magnified the importance of addressing the issue of prescription-drug misuse. With Americans spending...

ORLANDO, Fla. – A federal jury found Jerimiah Swanson (22, Cocoa) guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Swanson faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for...

TAMPA, Fla. - Adan Barajas Maldonado (35, Mexico) was sentenced to 25 years in prison for conspiring to distribute controlled substances and for possessing a gun to further his drug trafficking enterprise. Maldonado had pleaded guilty on October 30, 2019. Edwar Rodriguez (32, New York), one of Maldonado’s assistants, was...