DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Two Houston Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Burglarizing Pharmacies in Southern Illinois, Missouri

BENTON, Ill. – A district court judge sentenced two Houston, Texas, men to federal prison for burglarizing pharmacies of controlled substances in Casey, Illinois, and Poplar Bluff, Missouri. McKindley V. Allen, 32, and DaLeon J. Fontennet, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute...
PRESS RELEASE

Santa Clarita Man Charged with Distributing Opioid More Powerful than Fentanyl and Causing Victim’s Overdose Death

LOS ANGELES – A Santa Clarita man has been arraigned on an indictment alleging he distributed protonitazene – a novel synthetic opioid that is up to three times more powerful than fentanyl – which resulted in a victim’s fatal overdose this spring, the Justice Department announced today. Benjamin Anthony Collins...
PRESS RELEASE

Ohio Men Sentenced for Burglarizing Illinois and Missouri Pharmacies of Controlled Substances

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district court judge sentenced two Columbus, Ohio, men to federal prison for burglarizing several pharmacies of oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine pills with intent to illegally distribute the controlled substances. George H. Cunningham, 42, was sentenced to 100 months in prison and Tarvin M. Hamler...
PRESS RELEASE

Idaho Doctor Pays $96,000 to Settle Allegations That He Wrote Unlawful Prescriptions

POCATELLO – Dr. Gerald Knouf, a family medicine doctor formerly of Pocatello, Idaho, agreed to pay $96,000 to resolve allegations that he wrote unlawful prescriptions, prescribed dangerous combinations of drugs, and billed Medicare and Medicaid for services that were not performed, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. The settlement also...
PRESS RELEASE

Ferry County Hospital District Agrees to Pay $15,000 Penalty and Implement Corrective Actions to Address Improper Opioid Dispensing Practices at Republic Pharmacy

SPOKANE, Wash.– The Ferry County Hospital District agreed to pay a $15,000 Controlled Substances Act penalty and to institute corrective actions in regards to opioid prescribing practices at Republic Drug Store, a pharmacy in Republic, Washington, that Ferry County Hospital District purchased in January 2021 and has continued to operate...
PRESS RELEASE

New Hampshire Doctor Indicted for Unlawfully Distributing Opioids and Benzodiazepines

CONCORD, N.H. – A doctor practicing in the north country of New Hampshire was indicted in connection with his unlawful distribution of opioids and benzodiazepines, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Robert G. Soucy Jr., D.O., 70, of Columbia, New Hampshire, was indicted on 12 counts of distribution of controlled...
PRESS RELEASE

North Carolina Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Meth Trafficking

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Alfred A. Cooke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Merrillville, Indiana, and U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana announced that Keith Wigfall, 57, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty on...
PRESS RELEASE

Consent Decree Approved Among the U.S. and Cumberland, M.D. based Pharmacy and Pharmacist

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby approved the United States’ consent decree with John A. Beckman, a Cumberland, Maryland based pharmacist, and Beckman’s Greene Street Pharmacy, Inc. (“Beckman’s Pharmacy”), resolving the United States’ civil allegations that Beckman and Beckman’s Pharmacy violated the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) in...
PRESS RELEASE

Nurse Who Stole Painkillers, Replacing Them with Saline and Putting Surgical Patients at Risk, Sentenced to Four Years

RALEIGH, N.C. – A former Fuquay-Varina nurse was sentenced today to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for tampering with painkillers intended for surgery patients. On March 9, 2022, Melissa Elizabeth Chacona pled guilty to the charges. “Surgical patients trust healthcare providers to give them the...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Nurse Indicted for Drug Diversion from Boston Hospital

BOSTON – A former nurse has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly diverting opioids from a Boston-area hospital. Andrea Falzano, 38, of Winchester, was indicted on three counts of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception and subterfuge. Falzano was arrested this morning and will...