United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HOUSTON - A total of five Houston area drug traffickers are in custody on allegations they were involved in the large-scale distribution of methamphetamine in the Tomball and Pinehurst areas, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. A federal...

(FORT WORTH, - Texas - Following a one-day trial before U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, a federal jury deliberated 90 minutes yesterday to convict Juan Pasillas, 37, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Antonio Ballesteros 26, of Terrell, Texas, for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney...

SAN DIEGO - Physician Naga Raja Thota, a pain specialist with an office in El Cajon, was arrested this morning and charged with distributing oxycodone and other highly addictive drugs without any legitimate medical purpose in exchange for sex acts. The doctor was taken into custody by San Diego Drug...

WASHINGTON - The Drug Enforcement (DEA) today announced its intention to place the active materials in the kratom plant into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in order to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are found in kratom, which is a tropical tree indigenous...

MCALLEN, Texas - A Mexican national and lawful permanent resident from Mission has been ordered to federal prison following his convictions of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston...

AUG 30 - BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Ryan Welch, 22, of Salem, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden...

NEW YORK - - Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Michael Brown, a/k/a “Mighty,” pled guilty late last Friday to engaging in a racketeering conspiracy that involved his participation in two attempted murders in connection with his membership in a racketeering...

LOS ANGELES - Two doctors who each operated medical offices in Lynwood have been arrested on federal drug charges that allege they issued prescriptions for narcotics and sedatives without a medical purpose. The doctors - Sonny Oparah, 75, of Long Beach, and Edward Ridgill, 64, of Ventura - surrendered to...

AUG 29 - PORTLAND, Maine - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Northern Maine Medical (NMMC), has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States in which it will...

SAN FRANCISCO - A total of 16 defendants have been named thus far in a federal criminal complaint alleging a broad-ranging criminal conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and other drugs in both the Eastern and Northern Districts of California, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch, San Ramon Police...