DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Madera Pharmacist Sentenced to over 7 Years in Prison for Illegally Trafficking Hundreds of Thousands of Opiate Pills

FRESNO, Calif. — Ifeanyi Vincent Ntukogu, 49, of Fresno, was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison for illegally distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone. Ntukogu was a pharmacist in Madera who dispensed more than 450,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills based on fraudulent prescriptions, all in exchange for cash...
PRESS RELEASE

Federal Court Shuts Down San Joaquin County Pharmacy and Orders $1 Million in Civil Penalties

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nor-Cal Pharmacies Inc., doing business as Lockeford Drug, and pharmacist/owner Lawrence Howen have agreed to pay $1 million in penalties to resolve allegations of violations of the Controlled Substances Act, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark announced...
PRESS RELEASE

Passaic County Doctor Charged in Conspiracy to Distribute Opioids

NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, doctor was charged with conspiring to distribute opioids without a legitimate medical reason, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Field Division Cheryl Ortiz and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Lisa Ferraro, 65, of Hillsdale, New...
PRESS RELEASE

Santa Rosa Doctor Sentenced to More than Two Years in Prison for Unlawfully Prescribing Fentanyl and Oxycodone

SAN FRANCISCO –Thomas Keller, formerly a pain management doctor in Santa Rosa, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for distributing Schedule II and IV controlled substances outside the scope of his professional practice and without a legitimate medical need, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, Drug Enforcement...
PRESS RELEASE

Pharmacist Admits Filling Counterfeit Prescriptions Selling Oxycodone and Codeine in Exchange for Cash

NEWARK, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division Susan A. Gibson and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger announced a pharmacist and pharmacy owner pleaded guilty today to violating the Controlled Substances Act by filling fraudulent and counterfeit...
PRESS RELEASE

Virtua Health Inc. to Pay $150,000 to Settle Controlled Substances Act Allegations

NEWARK, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division Susan A. Gibson and Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Rachael A. Honig announced a nonprofit healthcare system that owns and operates a network of healthcare entities has agreed to pay $150,000...
PRESS RELEASE

Doctor admits soliciting sexual favors from patients in exchange for opioids

TRENTON, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, Susan A. Gibson, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Craig Carpenito, announced a New York doctor today admitted distributing opioids without a legitimate medical reason and soliciting sexual favors from patients in...
PRESS RELEASE

Driver in armed robbery of Madera pharmacy indicted

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Michael Erin Vandeventer, 21, of Sparks, Nevada, charging him with interference with commerce by robbery, known as Hobbs Act Robbery, and conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement...
PRESS RELEASE

Three individuals indicted for conspiring to traffic over 10,000 fentanyl pills, 10 lbs methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes

FRESNO, Calif. — Jorge Luis Velasquez, 33, of Mexico, Omar Velazquez Landeros, 27, of Bakersfield, and Victor Romero Galvan, 29, of Mexico, were indicted today for conspiring and possessing with intent to distribute over 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine, and for carrying...
PRESS RELEASE

San Mateo doctor charged with unlawful distribution of opioids and health care fraud

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury indicted Timothy Mulligan for the unlawful distribution of opioids, including fentanyl, outside the scope of professional practice and health care fraud, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux. According to the...