DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
21 Results - Showing 1 to 10
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

Queens Pharmacist Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Illegally Distributing Oxycodone and Filing False Tax Returns

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Today, Daniel E. Russo was sentenced to 60 months in prison by United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, distribution and possession of oxycodone, and nine counts of filing false personal and corporate tax returns. In...
PRESS RELEASE

Nurse Practitioner Arrested, Charged with Selling Oxymorphone

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Ostolski, 55, of North Tonawanda, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute oxymorphone. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J...
PRESS RELEASE

Catskill Pharmacy Pays $65,000 to Resolve Controlled Substances Act Allegations

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Greene Pharma LLC, dba Greene Medical Arts Pharmacy (Greene Pharma), a pharmacy in Catskill, New York, agreed to pay $65,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to comply with the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Frank...
PRESS RELEASE

Queens Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Illegally Distributing Oxycodone and Filing False Tax Returns

BROOKLYN – Daniel E. Russo pleaded guilty today in federal court in Brooklyn to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, distribution and possession of oxycodone, and nine counts of filing false personal and corporate tax returns. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Dora...
PRESS RELEASE

Doctor and Eight Others Charged with Distributing Opioids and Other Pills

MANHATTAN – Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictments of nine individuals, including Tribeca physician Dr. Noel Smith, for charges including conspiring to distribute tens of thousands of prescription pills, including opioids and other controlled substances, in Manhattan and Staten Island. The defendants allegedly operated a...
PRESS RELEASE

Dentist and TOBAY Worker Charged in 136-Count Indictment for Opioid Prescription Scheme

MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III and announced that a Nassau County dentist and a Town of Oyster Bay worker have been indicted for their roles in a scheme to sell opioid prescriptions during...
PRESS RELEASE

Four People Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Health Care Fraud Scheme to Defraud Amtrak

NEWARK, N.J. – Three men and one woman were arrested today for participating in a health care fraud scheme to defraud Amtrak by bribing Amtrak employees to allow people to submit fraudulent claims to the Amtrak health insurance plan, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Muhammad Mirza, 50, of Cedar...
PRESS RELEASE

Ulster County Dentist Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Acquiring and Obtaining Oxycodone

ALBANY, N.Y. – Vivian Letizia, age 63, of Stone Ridge, New York, pled guilty today to acquiring and obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, or subterfuge. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Timothy Foley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S...
PRESS RELEASE

Mesa Nurse Practitioner Indicted Over Alleged Illegal Opioid Prescribing Practices

PHOENIX - Nurse Practitioner Deborah Ann Cooney, 59 years old, has been indicted on 14 criminal charges related to her alleged illegal opioid prescribing practices at a clinic she operates in Mesa, Arizona. The investigation conducted by the Phoenix Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) developed allegations of improper...