DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Pharmacy Burglary Conspirators Arraigned Today in Federal Court

LITTLE ROCK—On July 30, 2024, in Houston, Texas, the Drug Enforcement Administration initiated the arrests of twenty-four co-conspirators following a superseding indictment in the Eastern District of Arkansas. The arrests follow the initial indictment and arrest of eighteen people from the Houston, Texas, area in November 2023. Defendants arrested in...
PRESS RELEASE

Nurse Practitioner Sentenced to 70 Months for Unlawful Drug Distribution

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Danielle Simonson, age 52, of Fort Ann, New York, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino...
PRESS RELEASE

Nurse Practitioner Arrested for Unlawful Drug Distribution

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Viagrande, age 41, of Latham, New York, was arrested earlier this week and charged with distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III...
PRESS RELEASE

Samson, Alabama Pharmacy Liable for $110,000 Penalty for Recordkeeping Violations of the Controlled Substances Act

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Today, Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that King Drug Co., Inc. (King Drug), a pharmacy previously doing business in Samson, Alabama, along with owner Traci Revels McCoy, is liable to the United States for $110,000 in civil monetary penalties after failing to comply with...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Announces Settlement with Morris & Dickson Co., LLC

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced today a settlement with pharmaceutical distributor Morris & Dickson Co., LLC for failing to maintain effective controls against diversion of controlled substances, including failure to report to DEA thousands of unusually large orders of oxycodone and hydrocodone. Morris & Dickson, which...
PRESS RELEASE

FL Man Who Allegedly Commandeered E-Prescribing Privileges of Doctors Charged with Criminal Sale

MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and Drug Enforcement Administration New York Division Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III announced the arrest of a Florida man who allegedly commandeered the e-prescribing privileges of multiple doctors to issue thousands...
PRESS RELEASE

Nassau Doctor Sentenced to Up to 15 Years in Prison for Overprescription of Opioids that Led to Five Deaths

MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced today that a Nassau County doctor has been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for prescription practices that led to the deaths of five patients between 2016 and 2018. George Blatti, 78, pleaded guilty on October 10...
PRESS RELEASE

Buffalo Man Convicted for His Role in Narcotics Conspiracy that Led to an Overdose Death

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Steven Gonzalez a/k/a Steven Hernandez, a/k/a Steve, a/k/a Stevie, a/k/a Unc, 47, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 188 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Gonzalez was also...
PRESS RELEASE

Fort Salonga Urologist and Wife Charged with Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance and Falsifying Business Records

SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III today announced the indictment of Francis and Jessica Martinis, of Fort Salonga, accused of Criminal Sale of Prescription for a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner and Falsifying...
PRESS RELEASE

Pharmacy Burglary Conspirators Arraigned Tuesday in Federal Court

LITTLE ROCK— Eighteen individuals from Texas who are accused of stealing more than $1.5 million worth of narcotics from numerous pharmacies in Arkansas were arrested in Houston on November 28, 2023, following an indictment returned in the Eastern District of Arkansas. Seven defendants appeared on charges Tuesday before United States...