TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In excess of 50 individuals have been arrested on warrants related to drug-trafficking as part of a long-term investigation conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration, local, and state law enforcement. The arrests were announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “I...

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Dr. Mark S.T. Armitage, a physician practicing with Pelican Family Medicine in Wilmington, North Carolina, agreed to pay $170,000 to resolve alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act. Dr. Armitage, who previously surrendered his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration to prescribe controlled substances, further agreed not to...

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A Beulaville man was sentenced today to 200 months in prison for conspiracy and distribution of cocaine base (crack) and fentanyl. Four people died from overdoses after consuming drugs sold by Marshall Ray Scarborough on a single day in April 2021. Scarborough was also ordered to...

OCALA, Fla. – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Uriel Fajardo-Albarran (28, Coleman) to 23 years in federal prison. A federal jury previously convicted Fajardo-Albarran of conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and three other drug distribution counts on January 6, 2023. According to...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A federal grand jury has returned a one-count indictment charging Ryan Tyler Newman, 29, of Steinhatchee, Florida, with distribution of methamphetamine. The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. The indictment alleges on or about August 17, 2022...

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven sentenced Angel Hernandez Coss (38, Bradenton) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. Hernandez Coss had pleaded guilty on January 17, 2023. According to court documents, Hernandez Coss and his...

TAMPA, Fla . – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung sentenced Jose Javier Galvan (55, Atlanta, GA) to six (6) years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Galvan had pleaded guilty on February 2, 2023...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Miranda Stafford, 55, of Perry, Florida, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of over 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams...

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...

RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley, along with federal and local law enforcement, provided information related to ongoing and coordinated efforts to target drug distribution in Sampson and Duplin Counties. Last week, a joint operation took place with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the...