DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
131 Results - Showing 121 to 130
PRESS RELEASE

Multi-Agency Operation Nets more than 70 arrests in Highlands County

SEBRING, Fla . – On September 30, 2010, a multi-agency federal, state, and local task force conducted an operation in which more than 70 people were arrested on drug trafficking and gun marcharges. For more than a year, federal, state, and local law enforcement worked on a massive operation dubbed...
PRESS RELEASE

International law enforcement operation targeting opioid traffickers on the Darknet results in over 170 arrests worldwide and the seizure of weapons, drugs and over $6.5 million

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice, through the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement team, joined Europol to announce the results of Operation DisrupTor, a coordinated international effort to disrupt opioid trafficking on the Darknet. The operation, which was conducted across the United States and Europe, demonstrates the continued...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Union General Hospital CEO and two Blairsville doctors sentenced to federal prison for illegally prescribing and obtaining pain pills

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - John Michael “Mike” Gowder, James Heaton, and George David Gowder have been sentenced to federal prison. Both Mike Gowder and Heaton were convicted on October 24, 2019, after a two-week jury trial on 102 counts related to illegally prescribing and obtaining more than 15,000 doses of prescription...
PRESS RELEASE

Indiana Doctor and Two Nurse Practitioners Arrested

CHICAGO – Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Bell, DEA Chicago Division, announced today that the DEA Merrillville Resident Office and their state and local counterparts arrested the following defendants: Geoffrey O. Onyeukwu, MD, 69, Gary, Indiana; Nurse Practitioner Akeem O. Kareem, 47, Crown Point, Indiana; and Nurse Practitioner Francis...
PRESS RELEASE

Baxley pharmacist sentenced to four years in federal prison for conspiracy involving healthcare fraud, opioids

BRUNSWICK, Ga. - A pharmacist who owned and ran Fulghum Pharmacy in Baxley, Ga. was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy that involved health care fraud and illegal distribution of opioids. Ray Ashley Dixon, R.Ph., 42, of Baxley, Georgia, was sentenced by...
PRESS RELEASE

California woman sentenced to 27 years for meth conspiracy

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Pomona, California, woman was sentenced in federal court today for leading a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in Jasper County, Missouri. Melissa R. Kivett, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 27 years in federal prison without parole. The case...
PRESS RELEASE

Federal charges filed in burglary at hospital

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge J. Michael Gannon and United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, April E. Hayworth, 31, Indianapolis, and Christina A. Smith, 37, Indianapolis, were charged today on federal drug, conspiracy, and burglary charges. “During this COVID19 pandemic, it is vitally important...
PRESS RELEASE

Catskill physician receives 54 months in prison for distribution of opioids, health care fraud, aggravated identify theft, and obstruction of justice

ALBANY, N.Y. – Myra Mabry, age 50, of Catskill, New York, was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for unlawfully distributing opioids, for impersonating her patients and defrauding insurance companies as part of the opioids distribution scheme, and for attempting to obstruct the investigation into her criminal activities. The...
PRESS RELEASE

Federal jury finds two Tampa doctors guilty

Tampa, Fla. – A federal jury has found Dr. Kendrick Eugene Duldulao, 45, of Tampa, and Dr. Medardo Queg Santos, 66, of Lakeland, guilty of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the course of professional practice. Santos was also found guilty of...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA agents serve warrants at pain management clinic and arrest naturopathic medical doctor

PHOENIX – The Drug Enforcement Administration Phoenix Field Division, along with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, announce the arrest of naturopathic medical doctor Jelina Ip and her mother, Alane Ip, following the execution of state-authorized warrants yesterday morning in Tempe. The Ips were owners and operators of Ava Pain Management...