DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
76 Results - Showing 1 to 10
PRESS RELEASE

Defendants Sentenced In $25 Million Tax Fraud And Drug Conspiracy

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Today, Joel Santana-Pierna and Abel Santana-Pierna, citizens of the Dominican Republic residing in Alaska, were sentenced to 135 months and 72 months imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in masterminding and perpetrating large drug trafficking and tax fraud conspiracies. "The sheer greed of these drug traffickers is clear...
PRESS RELEASE

New Jersey Doctor Sentenced To More Than 11 Years For Writing Illegal Oxycodone Prescriptions In Drug Distribution Conspiracy Also Ordered To Pay Approximately $630,000 In Fines And Forfeiture

NEWARK, N.J. - Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Jersey Division, and Paul J. Fishman, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey announced an internal medicine specialist who wrote illegal prescriptions for oxycodone was sentenced today to 136 months in prison for...
PRESS RELEASE

Three Of 20 Defendants Sentenced In Meth Distribution Ring

BOISE, Idaho - Jason Lee Holmberg, 39, of Middleton, Idaho, Ute Hornak, 47, of Nampa, Idaho, and Patrick Siemsen, 56, of Meridian, Idaho, were sentenced today for their role in distributing methamphetamine and/or interstate travel and transportation in aid of racketeering. Holmberg was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison...
PRESS RELEASE

Two Eagle Residents Sentenced For Conspiracy To Distribute Methamphetamine

BOISE, Idaho - Co-defendants Samantha Jo Tackitt and Michael Scott Longhi were sentenced in U.S. District Court to lengthy federal prison sentences for their involvement in a large scale Treasure Valley methamphetamine trafficking operation. Samantha Jo Tackitt, 31, of Eagle, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 151 months in prison followed...
PRESS RELEASE

Wasilla Conspiracy Leader Sentenced For Designer Drug Case Which Resulted In Death

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Robin Gattis, the leader of a drug conspiracy involving seven South-central Alaska residents was sentenced on December 5, 2013, to 16 years in federal prison. Gattis and the six other co-conspirators were involved in the importation and distribution of Methylone, a Schedule I controlled substance sold as...
PRESS RELEASE

Two Defendants Admit Roles In $65 Million Stolen Identity Income Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

NEWARK, N.J. - Two defendants have admitted their roles in one of the nation’s largest and longest running stolen identity refund fraud schemes ever identified, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced today. The scheme caused more than 8,000 fraudulent U.S. income tax returns to be filed, which sought more than...
PRESS RELEASE

Pharmacist Arrested, Charged With Assembling Illegal Drug Lab

NEWARK, N.J. - Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) New Jersey Division announced special agents of the DEA and FBI arrested a pharmacist early this morning in Jersey City, N.J., on federal charges alleging he assembled equipment for an illegal drug lab. Jordan Gonzalez...
PRESS RELEASE

Plummer Woman Sentenced For Conspiring To Distribute Meth

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho - -Vanessa Louise Wagner, 30, of Plummer, Idaho, was sentenced today to 90 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Wagner to forfeit $5,600. She pleaded...
PRESS RELEASE

Residents In The Pacific Northwest Turned In Over 13.8 Tons In DEA’s National Drug Take-Back Day

SEATTLE - The American people have again responded in droves to the most recent DEA-led National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Last Saturday, residents across the country turned in 647,211 (324 tons) of expired and unwanted medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,683 take-back sites that were available in...
PRESS RELEASE

Idaho Dentist Pleads Guilty To Prescription Drug Fraud

BOISE, Idaho - Rahil Akhtar, 37, of Eagle, Idaho, pleaded guilty on November 4, 2013, in federal court to one count of acquiring and obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud and deception. Akhtar was a dentist licensed to practice in the state of Idaho. According to court documents, from...