News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2003

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Shirley A. Armstead, Special Agent
Public Information Officer
Office: 314-538-4752

Judge Denies Easy Returns' Application for Preliminary Injunction

MAY 20--William J. Renton, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the St. Louis Division, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced that on May 19, 2003, United States District Judge Henry Edward Autrey denied Easy Returns Worldwide, Inc.'s Application for Preliminary Injunction and granted the Government's Motion to Dismiss. Department of Justice Attorney Ori Lev successfully represented the Government in the Preliminary Injunction Hearing. The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri also provided extensive assistance in this hearing. In effect, Easy Returns Worldwide, Inc., is no longer authorized to handle controlled substances.

On April 24, 2003, Acting Administrator John B. Brown III signed an Immediate Order to Show Cause Suspension of Registration for Easy Returns Worldwide, Inc., located in St. Charles, Missouri. Pursuant to Title 21 U.S.C. Sections 823 and 824 of the Controlled Substances Act, Mr. Brown determined that continued registration of Easy Returns Worldwide, Inc., is inconsistent with the public interest.

Easy Returns Worldwide, Inc., was registered with the DEA as a reverse distributor. As such, they were allowed to accept outdated or unwanted controlled substances from their customers. Upon receipt of the controlled substances, Easy Returns Worldwide, Inc., sent the out of date products for destruction and returned the unwanted items to manufacturers to obtain credit for their customers.

The diligent and professional efforts of DEA St. Louis Division Diversion Investigators resulted in evidence that Easy Returns Worldwide, Inc., grossly neglected its regulatory responsibilities as a reverse distributor.