DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Madera Pharmacist Sentenced to over 7 Years in Prison for Illegally Trafficking Hundreds of Thousands of Opiate Pills

FRESNO, Calif. — Ifeanyi Vincent Ntukogu, 49, of Fresno, was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison for illegally distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone. Ntukogu was a pharmacist in Madera who dispensed more than 450,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills based on fraudulent prescriptions, all in exchange for cash...
PRESS RELEASE

Concord Resident Charged with Assaulting DEA Agent with a Deadly Weapon and Other Crimes

OAKLAND, Calif. - A federal grand jury has charged two defendants with various crimes, including one defendant with extortion and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark; Federal Bureau of Investigation...
PRESS RELEASE

Federal Court Shuts Down San Joaquin County Pharmacy and Orders $1 Million in Civil Penalties

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nor-Cal Pharmacies Inc., doing business as Lockeford Drug, and pharmacist/owner Lawrence Howen have agreed to pay $1 million in penalties to resolve allegations of violations of the Controlled Substances Act, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark announced...
PRESS RELEASE

Santa Rosa Doctor Sentenced to More than Two Years in Prison for Unlawfully Prescribing Fentanyl and Oxycodone

SAN FRANCISCO –Thomas Keller, formerly a pain management doctor in Santa Rosa, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for distributing Schedule II and IV controlled substances outside the scope of his professional practice and without a legitimate medical need, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, Drug Enforcement...
PRESS RELEASE

Driver in armed robbery of Madera pharmacy indicted

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Michael Erin Vandeventer, 21, of Sparks, Nevada, charging him with interference with commerce by robbery, known as Hobbs Act Robbery, and conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement...
PRESS RELEASE

Three individuals indicted for conspiring to traffic over 10,000 fentanyl pills, 10 lbs methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes

FRESNO, Calif. — Jorge Luis Velasquez, 33, of Mexico, Omar Velazquez Landeros, 27, of Bakersfield, and Victor Romero Galvan, 29, of Mexico, were indicted today for conspiring and possessing with intent to distribute over 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine, and for carrying...
PRESS RELEASE

El Dorado County man sentenced 10 years in prison for distributing a drug that caused the death of a minor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Elijah Richter, 28, of Camino, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 10 years in prison for distribution of a controlled substance known as n25i-nBOME that caused a death, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel...
PRESS RELEASE

San Mateo doctor charged with unlawful distribution of opioids and health care fraud

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury indicted Timothy Mulligan for the unlawful distribution of opioids, including fentanyl, outside the scope of professional practice and health care fraud, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux. According to the...
PRESS RELEASE

San Francisco man sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for crimes related to illegal fentanyl pill manufacturing operation

SAN FRANCISCO - Kia Zolfaghari was sentenced today to 200 months in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Susan Illston, Senior United States District...
PRESS RELEASE

El Dorado County man pleads guilty to distributing a designer drug from the dark web that caused the death of a minor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Elijah Richter, 28, of Camino, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a controlled substance known as 25I-NBOMe that caused death, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux announced. According to court documents, during September 2012, Richter imported hallucinogenic...