Extradition of Colombian Narcotics Kingpin Defendant allegedly worked with two Colombian terrorist organizations to manufacture and distribute hundreds of tons of cocaine per year, and laundered millions of dollars in drug proceeds (WASHINGTON) - Michele M. Leonhart, the Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement (“DEA”), Preet Bharara, Loretta E. Lynch...

July 3, 2013 Contact: Public Information Officer Number: (313) 234-4310 COLUMBUS, Ohio - James E. Johnston, a/k/a “Monk,” 50, of Columbus was sentenced to 72 months in prison, five years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and ordered to forfeit three real estate properties located in Columbus for his role...

June 26, 2013 Contact: Public Information Officer Number: (313) 234-4310 BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - United States Attorney David J. Hale announced the sentencing of the last of 21 defendants prosecuted in a large marijuana distribution ring operating from June 2008 to February 2010, in Warren County, Kentucky. Senior Judge Thomas...

June 26, 2013 Contact: Public Information Officer Number: (313) 234-4310 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - James D. Orr, 75, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Thomas N. Verhage, 68, of Kentwood, entered guilty pleas to a felony charge of misbranding drugs related to their conduct while employed as staff pharmacists at Kentwood...

Nationwide enforcement actions targeted dangerous new and emerging class of chemicals from overseas WASHINGTON - Yesterday the Drug Enforcement (DEA) and its law enforcement partners announced enforcement operations in 35 states targeting the upper echelon of dangerous designer synthetic drug trafficking organizations that have operated without regard for the law...

WASHINGTON - Michele M. Leonhart, the Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement ("DEA"), and Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announced today a settlement of a civil forfeiture and money laundering lawsuit brought by the United States against the Lebanese Canadian ("LCB") and its assets. The Government’s action, filed on December...

June 25, 2013 Contact: Public Information Officer Number: (313) 234-4310 CLEVELAND - A grand jury returned a 57-count indictment charging 17 people for their roles in a conspiracy that distributed cocaine, heroin and marijuana on the streets of Youngstown, Akron and Columbus, law enforcement officials announced. Terrance A. Tarver obtained...

WASHINGTON - -“The Drug Enforcement Administration is grateful for the outstanding work of the Colombian National Police, the Special Investigative Unit and the Attorney General’s Office that led to the swift arrest of these suspects,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “We will never forget Special Agent Watson and his...

June 21, 2013 Contact: Public Information Officer Number: (313) 234-4310 DETROIT - An indictment was unsealed today charging Dr. Hussein “Sam” Awada, 43, and Dr. Luis Collazo, 53, with the illegal distribution of prescription drugs and health care fraud, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today. McQuade was joined...