United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MINNEAPOLIS – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division led an investigation in partnership with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies in which 15 individuals were charged in a Mexico-based drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl sourced by the Sinaloa and CJNG Cartels throughout the Twin...

SALT LAKE CITY - With less than six months remaining in 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Rocky Mountain Field Division (RMFD) has already seized nearly 800,000 fentanyl pills in Utah - a new record. In operations between January 1 and June 30, 2024, more than 774,000 fentanyl pills were seized...

ST. LOUIS – A doctor with an office in St. Louis and two employees have been indicted in U.S. District Court and accused of illegally prescribing controlled substances and health care fraud. Dr. David A. Parks, 66, James M. Bilderback, 58, both of Jefferson County, Missouri, and Michelle J. Scheer...

SAN DIEGO – OptumRx Inc., a prescription drug benefit provider, has agreed to pay $20 million to resolve allegations that it improperly filled certain opioid prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. The settlement resolves an investigation initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) into whether, between April 2013...

SAN DIEGO – Palomar Health, a California public health care district located in San Diego County, has paid $250,000 to resolve allegations of diversion of fentanyl from one of its facilities and failure to keep accurate records for fentanyl. Palomar Health is California’s largest health care district, with campuses in...

WICHITA, Kan. – A former Kansas physician was sentenced to 10 years in prison following a jury trial conviction and a plea agreement based on charges for selling opioid prescriptions to customers without legitimate medical need for powerful pain medications. According to court documents, Steven R. Henson, 63, of Wichita...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An anesthesiologist at a Lee’s Summit, Mo., hospital pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally taking prescription fentanyl from the hospital. Roman Peplinski, 37, of Kansas City, Mo., waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to...

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Field Division (RMFD) is proud to be part of the 26th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 10:00am to 2:00pm MST at dozens of locations across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. “DEA’s Take Back events serve as...

NEWARK, N.J. – A pharmaceutical manufacturer agreed to pay $2.25 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), DEA New Jersey Field Division Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today The manufacturer, Novel Laboratories Inc. (Novel), a subsidiary of...

POCATELLO – Dr. Gerald Knouf, a family medicine doctor formerly of Pocatello, Idaho, agreed to pay $96,000 to resolve allegations that he wrote unlawful prescriptions, prescribed dangerous combinations of drugs, and billed Medicare and Medicaid for services that were not performed, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. The settlement also...