DEA Archived Press Releases

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

13 Arrested in Connection with an LSD, Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking and Money Laundering Scheme Occurring in the West Campus Area of the University of Texas at Austin

Federal, state and local authorities have arrested 13 individuals, including current and former University of Texas (UT) students, charged in connection with trafficking LSD, fentanyl and methamphetamine pills to UT students in Austin. That announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent...
PRESS RELEASE

Pharmacist sentenced for presenting forged prescriptions for opioid and anti-malaria prescription drugs

ST. LOUIS – Tamara Jo Nyachira of Pittsburg, Kansas, was sentenced today to three years’ probation, a $5,000 fine and 100 hours of community service after pleading guilty to obtaining narcotic opioid prescription drugs with forged prescriptions before Chief United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel. According to her plea...
PRESS RELEASE

El Cajon “Pill Mill” Doctor Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Causing the Illegal Distribution of Opioids

SAN DIEGO – Egisto Salerno, M.D., a San Diego resident, was sentenced to 18 months in custody by U.S. District Judge Cynthia Ann Bashant for causing the illegal distribution of an opioid pain medication commonly known as Norco or Vicodin. Salerno, whose medical practice was located on El Cajon Boulevard...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA announces launch of Project Safeguard

Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea and Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Bell, Chicago Division, announced that the DEA will direct resources to help reduce violent crime in Chicago and communities throughout the country. Under this initiative, called Project Safeguard, DEA will identify and prioritize drug trafficking...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA announces launch of Project Safeguard

WASHINGTON – Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea today announced that the DEA will direct resources to help reduce violent crime in communities throughout the country. Under this initiative, called Project Safeguard, DEA will identify and prioritize ongoing drug trafficking investigations with a nexus to violent crime. “D...
PRESS RELEASE

Coordinated opioid fentanyl outreach initiative for the greater Spokane and Tri-Cities communities announced

SPOKANE, Wash., - On October 21 - 22, 2020, United States Attorney William Hyslop and DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis announced a coordinated Opioid Fentanyl Outreach initiative by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, community leaders, prevention specialists and school superintendents in Spokane and the Tri-Cities areas...
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...