DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
219 Results - Showing 161 to 170
PRESS RELEASE

International law enforcement operation targeting opioid traffickers on the Darknet results in over 170 arrests worldwide and the seizure of weapons, drugs and over $6.5 million

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice, through the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement team, joined Europol to announce the results of Operation DisrupTor, a coordinated international effort to disrupt opioid trafficking on the Darknet. The operation, which was conducted across the United States and Europe, demonstrates the continued...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Union General Hospital CEO and two Blairsville doctors sentenced to federal prison for illegally prescribing and obtaining pain pills

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - John Michael “Mike” Gowder, James Heaton, and George David Gowder have been sentenced to federal prison. Both Mike Gowder and Heaton were convicted on October 24, 2019, after a two-week jury trial on 102 counts related to illegally prescribing and obtaining more than 15,000 doses of prescription...
PRESS RELEASE

Indiana Doctor and Two Nurse Practitioners Arrested

CHICAGO – Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Bell, DEA Chicago Division, announced today that the DEA Merrillville Resident Office and their state and local counterparts arrested the following defendants: Geoffrey O. Onyeukwu, MD, 69, Gary, Indiana; Nurse Practitioner Akeem O. Kareem, 47, Crown Point, Indiana; and Nurse Practitioner Francis...
PRESS RELEASE

Baxley pharmacist sentenced to four years in federal prison for conspiracy involving healthcare fraud, opioids

BRUNSWICK, Ga. - A pharmacist who owned and ran Fulghum Pharmacy in Baxley, Ga. was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy that involved health care fraud and illegal distribution of opioids. Ray Ashley Dixon, R.Ph., 42, of Baxley, Georgia, was sentenced by...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA launches Secure Your Meds campaign, calls on Americans to keep medications safe

CHICAGO – With families encouraged to stay at home due to the nationwide health crisis, the Drug Enforcement Administration is asking Americans to keep prescription medications safe and secure until they can properly dispose of them. The Secure Your Meds awareness campaign addresses a vital public safety and health issue...
PRESS RELEASE

Rawlins doctor pleads guilty to unlawful distribution of prescription pain pill

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Dr. David Ray Cesko, 66, of Rawlins, Wyoming, pleaded guilty on Feb. 26, 2020, in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne to multiple charges that, as a physician, he unlawfully distributed controlled substances, primarily opiates and benzodiazepines, to his patients. Cesko was charged by a Wyoming federal grand...
PRESS RELEASE

St. Louis County dentist sentenced to 18 months after issuing illegal prescriptions for opioid narcotic drugs

ST. LOUIS – Bradley A. Seyer, D.D.S., 53, of Florissant, Missouri, was sentenced today to 18 months of imprisonment and a $50,000 fine. Previously, on June 26, 2019, Dr. Seyer pleaded guilty to two felony charges of making false statements to Medicare and illegally issuing prescriptions for narcotic opioid drugs...
PRESS RELEASE

Two defendants sentenced for major drug conspiracy, trafficking drugs from Georgia to Southwest Virginia

ABINGDON, Va. – Two members of a drug distribution organization that trafficked methamphetamine, heroin, oxycodone, cocaine, and other drugs from Georgia into Southwest Virginia were recently sentenced in federal court on drug conspiracy charges. In a hearing this week, Roy Lee Dykes, 61, of Watkinsville, Ga., formerly of Big Stone...
PRESS RELEASE

Silent No More Overdose Symposium brings opioid crisis experts to Virginia Commonwealth University to discuss real solutions

RICHMOND, Va. – Over 160 law enforcement, medical, education, and community services professionals gathered today at Virginia Commonwealth University for the Silent No More Overdose Symposium. “The coming together of this highly respected and accomplished group of professionals is incredibly impressive, but there is still much more work to be...
PRESS RELEASE

Norton doctor pleads guilty to illegally prescribing prescription drugs

ABINGDON, Va. – Dr. Raymond Michael Moore, 61, of Wise, Va., who had a medical practice in Norton, pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court in Abingdon, to 14 federal charges, including illegally prescribing more than 25,000 oxycodone pills, more than 17,000 hydrocodone pills, and more than 10,000 benzodiazepine...