DEA Archived Press Releases

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

OptumRx Agrees to Pay $20M to Resolve Allegations that It Filled Opioid Prescriptions in Violation of the Controlled Substances Act

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...
PRESS RELEASE

Palomar Hospital Pays $250,000 for Diverting Fentanyl

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...
PRESS RELEASE

Doctor and Office Manager Indicted in Scheme to Defraud Medicare, Manufacture and Distribute Fentanyl

SAN DIEGO - Dr. David J. Smith, a pain management physician, and his office manager, Julia Ann Oertle, are charged in a federal grand-jury indictment with perpetuating a long-running scheme to commit healthcare fraud and to manufacture and distribute adulterated fentanyl. Smith made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate...
PRESS RELEASE

Pharmacy Owner Convicted of Unlawfully Dispensing 1.5 Million Doses of Controlled Substances

Houston-A federal jury in the Southern District of Texas convicted a Texas pharmacy owner yesterday for unlawfully distributing controlled substances and laundering money from his now-shuttered pharmacies. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Clint Carr, 32, of Cypress, co-owned and operated CC Pharmacy in Houston, and CC...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Houston Shuts Down Wholesale Rx Inc. Distribution Operations

HOUSTON, TX – Today, Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Division diversion investigators served an Immediate Suspension Order (ISO) that immediately suspended the DEA registration held by Wholesale Rx also known as “Tyler Pharmaceuticals” located in Cordova, TN. Wholesale Rx is suspected of diverting controlled substances onto the black market resulting in...
PRESS RELEASE

Florida-Based Pharmaceutical President Indicted in Counterfeit Promethazine-Codeine Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

BEAUMONT, Texas – A federal grand jury in Beaumont has returned a three-count indictment charging a Florida resident, along with nine other individuals, in a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division and U.S...
PRESS RELEASE

San Diego Pharmacy Pays $105,000 Penalty for Illegitimately Dispensing Opioids

SAN DIEGO – San Diego’s Balboa Pharmacy has paid $105,000 to resolve allegations that it illegally dispensed opioids and other dangerous drugs to its patients, according to a settlement agreement signed by Balboa Pharmacy and the United States. The settlement stems from the United States’ continued efforts to combat the...
PRESS RELEASE

Thirteen Arrested for Fentanyl Distribution

AUSTIN – Today 13 individuals were arrested on criminal charges for their alleged involvement in fentanyl distribution announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux and United States Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. According to court documents, Marcos Garcia, 18, of Somerton, AZ; Oliver Garcia, 20, of...
PRESS RELEASE

Operators of Three Texas Pharmacies and Two Pain Clinics Arrested for Illegally Dispensing Nearly Four Million Opioid Pills

WASHINGTON – Three Houston-area pharmacists, a doctor, and a pharmacy technician have been arrested for allegedly running three pharmacies and two clinics as “pill mills;” distributing hydrocodone, oxycodone, and other controlled drugs without a legitimate medical purpose. According to court documents, since January 2018, Chrisco Pharmacy (Chrisco), Keystone Pharmacy (Keystone)...
PRESS RELEASE

San Diego Doctor Pays $200,000 to Resolve Allegations that He Wrote Illegitimate Opioid Prescriptions

SAN DIEGO – San Diego area pain clinic doctor Brenton Wynn, M.D., has paid $200,000 to resolve allegations that he illegally prescribed opioids and other dangerous drugs to his patients, according to a settlement agreement signed by Dr. Wynn and the United States. The settlement stems from the United States’...