PRESS RELEASE

DEA Hosts the 29th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25th

… Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  At nearly 4,000 collection sites … the DEA’s National Take Back Day to lessen community risk from drug abuse and keep Americans safe!” “DEA’s National … our shared commitment to protecting the American people from drug-related harm,” said DEA Administrator Terrance …
PRESS RELEASE

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

… tablets of oxycodone (30mg size) had been lost or stolen from the inpatient pharmacy at the hospital. An investigation conducted by diversion investigators from the DEA revealed that from Oct. 8, 2015, through Nov. 2, 2016, Virtua Health …
PRESS RELEASE

Philadelphia Man Admits Role in Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy

… thereafter, both Hernandez Pinales and Rivera Pagan fled from the parking lot, after seeing what they believed to be … officers recovered approximately 900 grams of fentanyl from Hernandez Pinales’ car, as well as cellphones from Rivera Pagan and Hernandez Pinales that contained …
PRESS RELEASE

DEA launches “Secure Your Meds” winter campaign

… unused medications. This one action can prevent medications from getting into the hands of children and others who may … of abused and misused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets. For more information on …
PRESS RELEASE

Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 45 Months Imprisonment for Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy

… The defendant purchased wholesale quantities of fentanyl from another member of the conspiracy, who, in turn, imported the fentanyl from an international source of supply.  The defendant was … authorized wiretap investigation arranging drug purchasers from the conspirator who was importing the drugs. The …
PRESS RELEASE

St. Louis Man Pleas Guilty of Meth Distribution

… Court Judge John A. Ross accepted a plea of guilty today from Adam Jones of St. Louis. Sentencing is scheduled for … a total of five undercover purchases of methamphetamine from Jones beginning in May 2020. Investigators successfully … to Jones, who made the purchases of methamphetamine from Jones over an approximately two-month period between …
PRESS RELEASE

Missouri Woman Indicted for Tampering with Hospitals’ Fentanyl

… City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a nurse from Kansas City, Missouri, with two counts of tampering … allegedly used her fingerprint to remove vials of fentanyl from an automated dispensing cabinet at Menorah Medical … and April 2020, Naccarato allegedly took vials of fentanyl from an automated dispensing cabinet at AdventHealth Shawnee …
PRESS RELEASE

St. Louis Man Sentenced for Attempting to Purchase Cocaine

… to court documents, Equere arranged to purchase cocaine from a confidential source working at the direction of law … was ordered to forfeit his interest in the $27,800 seized from his car and pay a $200 fine. Upon his release from prison, Equere will serve a 4-year term of supervised …
PRESS RELEASE

Canadian marijuana dealer sentenced to 135 months for role in international conspiracy

… thousands of pounds of marijuana into the United States from Canada through the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian … J. Hunt of the New York Division. Following his extradition from Canada, Stewart admitted that he and his … of pounds of marijuana across the St. Lawrence River from Canada into the United States. Chief U.S. District …
PRESS RELEASE

Princeton, Kentucky Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Distribution

… methamphetamine on three occasions during a two-day period from August 26th to 27th, 2021. Additionally, on August 27, … Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police and the Commonwealth … Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case with assistance from paralegal Cristy Crockett. ### Drug Trafficking On On …
GENERAL INFORMATION

DEA Celebrates 50 Years

January 16, 2025
… the cold-blooded underworld networks that funnel narcotics from suppliers all over the world are no respecters of the … trafficking organizations. According to the final report from the Senate Committee on Government Operations issued on Oct. 16, 1973, the benefits anticipated from the creation of the DEA included: 1. Putting an end to …
January 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE

Nineteen Indicted in Drug Distribution Conspiracy

… 90 search warrants across the Puget Sound region - from as far north as Everett and as far south as Spanaway - … seizing 40 firearms. An additional 33 firearms were seized from others involved in this case.  In addition to 16 of the … commitment to not only serve, but also protect the public from these violent criminal networks who terrorize their …
PRESS RELEASE

Two men indicted for importing cocaine in Port of Savannah

… There is no parole in the federal system.   In June, agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in … and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Augusta Fire Department, seized packages containing … holding a shipping container that had been transported from the Port of Savannah. Pujols and Ramos were taken into …
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Encourages Communities to Make Every Day Take Back Day

… The Take Back program has received an overwhelming response from communities across the country.   In 2023, DEA … for a nonmedical purpose obtained that medication from a family member or friend.  Removing unnecessary medications from the home can help prevent situations involving not …
PRESS RELEASE

Houston County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Solicitation of Murder Plot

… claiming the intended victim had either stolen drugs from him or owed him money.  Campos discussed the intended … Campos and his girlfriend, Robin Pittman, traveled together from Houston County to Tyler to discuss the murder, to … April 13, 2022, Campos and Pittman again traveled together from Houston County to Tyler to discuss the murder and to …
PRESS RELEASE

Oklahoma City Doctor Pays $325,000 to Settle Civil Penalty Claims

… City, paid $325,000 to settle civil penalty claims stemming from allegations that he violated the Comprehensive Drug … Clinic in Oklahoma City.  The United States alleges that from approximately November 2016 to May 2017, Dr. Nguyen … of Diversion Control in Oklahoma City, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of …
PRESS RELEASE

Kentucky Drug Dealers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Meth in Southern Indiana

… distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, from Jan. through Sept. 2018, Shultz and Garrett conspired … of methamphetamine and a large amount of U.S. currency from the vehicle. In his guilty plea, Shultz admitted that … Probation Office for five years, following their release from prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley who …
PRESS RELEASE

Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 137 Months for Meth Trafficking

… this charge on Jan. 26, 2022.  On June 8, 2020, an officer from the Merrill Police Department attempted a traffic stop … revealed that Myers had received the methamphetamine from his co-defendant, Levi Bagne, who lived in Arizona.  At … it was an aggravating factor that Myers had been released from prison for less than two months at the time of his …
PRESS RELEASE

DEA launches “Secure Your Meds” winter campaign

… unused medications. This one action can prevent medications from getting into the hands of children and others who may … of abused and misused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets. For more information on …
PRESS RELEASE

Minnesota man sentenced to 66 months for distributing methamphetamine in Eau Claire, WI

… confidential informant bought 52 grams of methamphetamine from Cappard and his co-defendant, Alisha Heiman, at a hotel … with officers, Cappard admitted to traveling to Eau Claire from Minnesota for the purpose of selling methamphetamine.  … working with Heiman to sell one pound of methamphetamine from the hotel room. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley …
PRESS RELEASE

Sanford Woman Sentenced to 12 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking Resulting in Death

… in York County. Two people who received fentanyl from members of the conspiracy died and another person … officers seized approximately 150 grams of fentanyl from members of the conspiracy. A later search of Adams’ … Enforcement Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Biddeford and Sanford Police Departments.       …
PRESS RELEASE

Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 87 Months in Federal Prison

… documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement … Delgado and others, who were receiving shipments of cocaine from Puerto Rico and California, and distributing the drug … Administration’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, …
PRESS RELEASE

Harwich man sentenced to eight years in prison for fentanyl conspiracy

… quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin on Cape Cod. From April 2017 through August 2017, investigators intercepted phone calls and text messages from this drug organization. Wiretap interceptions, physical …
PRESS RELEASE

DEA and Partners Announce Results of 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

… and potential overdose by removing prescription pills from their homes. Our April event included 4,425 community … public health crisis by removing no longer need medication from their homes,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Wade R. … Day are available at www.deatakeback.com . Photos and video from Take Back Day are available on Flicker.  Off …
PRESS RELEASE

First Lady Melania Trump kicks off National Red Ribbon Week with DEA

… community partners launch 31st campaign to keep kids away from drugs WASHINGTON – First Lady Melania Trump today … 1985. Red Ribbon Week is officially celebrated nationally from October 23-31; however, communities and school … a red ribbon during the last week in October, Americans from all walks of life demonstrate their opposition to …
PRESS RELEASE

Cocaine dealer sentenced to 192 months for role in cocaine conspiracy

… 12, 2013 the defendant shipped kilogram bricks of cocaine from Houston, Texas to Buffalo, New York for distribution. … including Beverly Fields, would then package cash proceeds from the cocaine distribution and ship the currency from the Buffalo area to the defendant in Houston. The …
STORY

Violent drug organizations use human trafficking to expand profits

January 28, 2021
… cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline from across the DMV. The statistic was reported by the … local partners to combat. How can we protect our families from this? Do you know the signs? Do you know what to do? … across the border, doubling up on the money they can make from them. Violent criminals like this see no difference …
January 28, 2021
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Reveals Criminal Drug Networks Are Flooding the U.S. with Deadly Fentanyl

… announced the results of a public safety surge that lasted from September 29, 2021 through December 14, 2021. The surge … fake prescription pills, using chemicals sourced largely from China. These fake prescription pills are designed to … prescribed by a trusted medical professional that you get from a licensed pharmacist. All other pills are unsafe and …
PRESS RELEASE

Heroin Trafficker Who Fled Controlled Delivery sentenced to 14 Years

… During the delivery, the defendant became nervous and fled from law enforcement at a high rate of speed. Later, he … Attorney George Leal prosecuted the case. The case stems from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces … in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on …
PRESS RELEASE

DEA undercover operation leads to guilty plea

… and May 2, 2017, the defendant regularly purchased cocaine from a source of supply in Dunkirk, New York a weekly basis … 2017, the DEA conducted two undercover purchases of cocaine from Paternostro.  On November 16, 2017, law enforcement … a probable cause traffic stop. Officers recovered cocaine from Paternostro’s pocket. Officers also executed a New York …