DEA Archived Press Releases

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

DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Removes Almost 600,000 Pounds of Unneeded Prescription Medications Across the Country

NEWARK, NJ – On Oct. 28, 2023, the community once again emptied their medicine cabinets to help dispose of old, unwanted, and expired medications. Nationwide, DEA and its law enforcement partners collected 599,897 pounds of unneeded medications at 4,675 collection sites nationwide. Locally, the New Jersey Field Division collected 14,459...
PRESS RELEASE

Bank Insider Charged with Accepting Brides to Facilitate Millions of Dollars of Money Laundering

NEWARK, NJ. – A New Jersey-based employee of an international financial institution was arrested today for accepting bribes to facilitate millions of dollars of money laundering, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) New Jersey Field Division Cheryl Ortiz U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Oscar Marcelo...
PRESS RELEASE

Passaic County Doctor Charged in Conspiracy to Distribute Opioids

NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, doctor was charged with conspiring to distribute opioids without a legitimate medical reason, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Field Division Cheryl Ortiz and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Lisa Ferraro, 65, of Hillsdale, New...
PRESS RELEASE

Five Men Charged With Using New York Diamond District Companies As Front To Illegally Move More Than $600 Million

NEWARK, NJ. – Five men who work in New York City’s Diamond District were arrested today and charged with illegally processing more than $600 million through unlicensed money transmitting businesses, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division Cheryl Ortiz and U.S. Attorney Philip R...
PRESS RELEASE

Toms River Woman Charged with Unauthorized Practice of Medicine, Forgery, Health Care Claims Fraud, and Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance

NEWARK, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division Cheryl Ortiz and Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on July 25, 2023, Maria F. Macburnie, aka Marife L. Macburnie, 62, of Toms River, was charged with Practicing Medicine by an Unlicensed...
PRESS RELEASE

Charges Unsealed Against Specially Designated Global Terrorist Mohammad Bazzi and Talal Chahine

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – A three-count indictment was unsealed today in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi, a Lebanese and Belgian citizen, and Talal Chahine, a Lebanese citizen, with conspiracy to conduct and cause United States persons to conduct unlawful transactions with...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Office Manager of New Jersey Medical Practice Admits Conspiring with Doctor to Divert Controlled Substances

NEWARK, N.J. – Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division Daniel J. Kafafian and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger announced a former office manager of a New Jersey medical practice admitted conspiring with the doctor who owned the...
PRESS RELEASE

Department of Justice Files Nationwide Lawsuit Against Amerisource Bergen Corp. and Subsidiaries for Controlled Substances Act Violations

NEWARK, N.J. – In a civil complaint filed today, the Department of Justice alleges that AmerisourceBergen Corp. and two of its subsidiaries, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp. and Integrated Commercialization Solutions LLC (AmerisourceBergen), collectively one of the country’s largest wholesale pharmaceutical distributors and one of the largest companies in America by revenue...
PRESS RELEASE

New Jersey Pharmacy Admits Illegal Distribution of Prescription Opioids and Kickback Scheme

NEWARK, N.J. – Susan A. Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations-New Jersey Field Office, Patrick J. Hegarty, Defense Criminal Investigative...
PRESS RELEASE

Pharmacist Admits Filling Counterfeit Prescriptions Selling Oxycodone and Codeine in Exchange for Cash

NEWARK, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division Susan A. Gibson and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger announced a pharmacist and pharmacy owner pleaded guilty today to violating the Controlled Substances Act by filling fraudulent and counterfeit...