United States Drug Enforcement Administration

LOS ANGELES - More than 500 law enforcement personnel executed a major operation this morning, taking into custody 32 defendants who are charged in two federal racketeering indictments, one of which outlines how members of the Mexican Mafia were able to control drug smuggling, narcotics sales and the extortion of...

ST. LOUIS - Matthew Barden, Associate Special Agent in Charge of the DEA St. Louis Division, announces substantial prison sentences as the result of two large-scale drug investigations, led by the DEA office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In one case, Ryan Buchheim, 48, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received a 20-year...

LOS ANGELES - A former Los Angeles resident has been sentenced to 320 months in federal prison for participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that imported acetylfentanyl, a drug very similar to fentanyl, a powerful and highly addictive opioid. Acetylfentanyl, which is five times more potent that heroin, is not...

RENO, Nev. - A Reno man was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute U-47700, a dangerous synthetic opioid with street names “China White” and “Pinky” that is more potent than morphine, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of...

LOS ANGELES - Americans nationwide did their part to drop off a record number of unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications during the DEA’s 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, at close to 6,000 sites across the country. Together with a record-setting amount of local, state and federal partners...

ST. LOUIS - Matt Barden, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the St. Louis Division Office, today announced that Robert “Bobby” Whitenack, 37, a convicted felon from Westside, Iowa, was convicted on the charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking...

SANTA ANA, Calif. - Three Orange County men have been charged in a scheme to use the synthetic opioid fentanyl and a similar drug to manufacture and distribute counterfeit pharmaceutical pills designed to look like brand-name oxycodone pills. A criminal complaint filed Wednesday in United States District Court alleges that...

OMAHA - Matt Barden, Associate Special Agent in Charge of the DEA St. Louis Division, today announced that Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) operation “Mala Rubia” resulted in a 12 and ½ year prison sentence for the leader of this drug trafficking (DTO). Jason Nauman, 36, of Marshalltown, Iowa...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Jay Forster, Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA office in Springfield, Missouri, today announced that Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) operation “Cash Cab” resulted in a 30 year prison sentence for the leader of this drug trafficking (DTO). Patrick Brigaudin, 55, of Springfield, Missouri, was...

ST. LOUIS - Scott Collier, Diversion Program Manager of the St. Louis Division, today announced that Phillip Dean, M.D., 62, of Warrenton, Missouri, was indicted on eight felony charges pertaining to illegally prescribing fentanyl, hydrocodone, and other controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose, as well as making false statements...