COLUMBIA, S.C. – Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Atlanta Division announced that the DEA Columbia is partnering with national, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, as well as community coalition groups, during its 16th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The...

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration today announced that Knoxville will be the 13th pilot city to be part of a comprehensive law enforcement and prevention “360 Strategy,” designed to help cities dealing with the heroin and prescription drug abuse epidemic, and the violent crime that accompanies it...

CELINA, Tenn. -- DEA investigators this week conducted inspections at several pharmacy locations in the Clay County, Tennessee town of Celina, following an inquiry into irregular patterns of pill purchases from drug distribution companies. DEA is now investigating possible criminal activity involving the illicit diversion of controlled prescription pharmaceuticals at...

MACON, Ga. – United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Charles E. Peeler, announces that Delma Goddard, a/k/a “Shug” and “Big Hxmie” age 38, of Milledgeville, Georgia, was found guilty by a jury of his peers of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute more than 280 Grams...

ATLANTA – Ricardo Silva, a current inmate at Smith State Prison and a high-ranking member of the Sureños prison gang, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine. He is currently serving a sentence with the state of Georgia for trafficking cocaine. “The mission of DEA...

SAVANNAH, GA - The United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia entered a default judgment against Dr. Firoz Patka, of Martinez, Georgia, totaling $1.2 million. In May 2017, the United States filed a complaint against Dr. Patka for violations of the Controlled Substances Act based on his...

Rome, Ga. – Barry Shedd has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine less than two months after his release from state custody. “The amount of prison time Shedd received correctly reflects the continuous criminal activities...

(SAVANNAH, Ga.) – Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Secretary Alex M. Azar III, announced today the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action involving 601 charged defendants across 58 federal districts, including 165 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged...

(ATLANTA) – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, in partnership with the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, has released an opioid public service announcement that reminds Georgians that the opioid epidemic demands the urgent attention of everyone in our community. “Fighting this epidemic...

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Secretary Alex M. Azar III, announced today the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action involving 601 charged defendants across 58 federal districts, including 165 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged...