United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ATLANTA - Arden McCann has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in operating an international narcotics distribution ring over the dark web where millions of counterfeit Xanax pills were imported and sold to customers in the United States.  

“Arden McCann’s actions put profits before public health and safety,” said Jae Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA will continue to make sure those who hide behind a keyboard and use the dark web to profit off lives are held accountable.”

“Counterfeit pill production and distribution continues to pose a grave threat to public safety, especially when trafficked anonymously using dark web marketplaces,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr.  “Due to the diligent investigative efforts of our state, federal, and foreign law enforcement partners, McCann’s illegal drug operation has been dismantled.”

“This country is in the midst of a catastrophic overdose epidemic where the threat from synthetic opioids disguised as fake prescription medication is extremely high. The FBI will do whatever is necessary to hold criminals who sell counterfeit drugs accountable,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing is a testament to the great law enforcement collaboration by agencies here in Georgia, as well as nationally and internationally.”

 “McCann’s sentencing sends a clear message that drug trafficking and the devastation it brings to our communities will not be tolerated. We remain committed to holding those accountable who distribute this poison and threaten public safety,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta, which covers Georgia and Alabama. “Our office will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt these dangerous networks and protect the well-being of our citizens.”

“This drug trafficking investigation required significant coordination from multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies along with our international partners to identify and interrupt the distribution of these dangerous drugs,” said Jason Krizmanich, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “Postal Inspectors will continue to pursue anyone who illegally utilize the mail system.”  

“The issue of fentanyl and illicit opioids remains a top concern for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and we remain committed to collaborating with our international law enforcement partners to actively pursue the criminal networks that are fueling this public health epidemic,” said Superintendent Marie Eve Lavallée, Assistant Criminal Operations Officer, Organized Crime Program, RCMP Federal Policing – Eastern Region.         

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges and other information presented in court: In October 2015, McCann was arrested by the Laval (Quebec, Canada) Police after he was identified as selling drugs on the dark web using the moniker “DRXanax.”  As part of that investigation, Canadian authorities seized approximately two million counterfeit Xanax pills, five pill presses, alprazolam powder, 3,000 MDMA pills, over $200,000 in cash, 15 firearms, ballistic vests, and drug ledgers. The drug ledgers revealed McCann and others purchased alprazolam from China, pressed the alprazolam into counterfeit Xanax pills, then sold the pills to customers throughout the United States.  

Despite his arrest, McCann continued to operate on the dark web to sell narcotics, including fentanyl analogues.  A subsequent investigation by U.S. law enforcement revealed that from at least November 2015 to February 2020, McCann operated numerous vendor pages on over ten marketplaces on the dark web.  The investigation also revealed that McCann, who used various monikers, was one of the largest drug vendors on the dark web between 2015 and 2020, distributing drugs to 49 states and generating more than $10 million dollars of revenue. 

McCann was arrested by Canadian authorities on February 26, 2020, on the charges from the Northern District of Georgia, and was extradited to the United States on June 9, 2022.

Arden McCann, 37, of Quebec, Canada, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to 30 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was also fined $1 million dollars.  McCann was convicted of drug importation and money laundering conspiracies on September 23, 2023, after he pleaded guilty.           

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Food and Drug Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with invaluable assistance provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  

 Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brock Brockington and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tal Chaiken and Nick Hartigan prosecuted the case. Trial Attorneys from the Office of International Affairs also provided assistance in this case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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