Washington, D.C. — The Justice Department, together with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), today announced a $50 million settlement with Walmart Inc. (Walmart) to resolve allegations that Walmart pharmacies illegally filled thousands of invalid prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). “This...

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Argentina’s Ministry of National Security concluded the 40th annual International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) last week, bringing together more than 500 senior drug enforcement officials and delegates from 110 countries to strengthen global cooperation in the fight against transnational drug...

LONDONDERRY, N.H. —The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration was joined today by U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire Erin Creegan, representatives from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the New Hampshire Department of Safety, the Town of Londonderry, and members of the New Hampshire federal congressional delegation to officially...

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Orleans Field Division is issuing an urgent public safety advisory to residents across the Northshore, specifically St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes, warning of a deadly group of synthetic opioids known as nitazenes following a recent surge in fatal overdoses. Forensic analysis and recent...

OXFORD – U.S. Attorney Scott Leary presented three awards for investigative excellence to investigators relating to their work on a Homeland Security Task Force drug trafficking prosecution: • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Josh Moore; • DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant/DEA Task Force Officer Josh Bryant; and • Hernando...

MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Steve Michael Kelley, 58, a former nurse who worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, was indicted by grand jury for one count of obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge. His initial appearance was...

CONCORD, N.H. – Massachusetts pharmacist Rima Gerges-Maalouf, 60, pleaded guilty in Federal Court to diverting controlled prescription drugs while working as a pharmacist in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. As set forth in the plea agreement, in August 2024, Gerges-Maalouf served as a per diem pharmacist at a...

BOISE, Idaho – Andrew Rumbo-Ochoa, 28, of Santa Clara, California, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to the investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U. S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation, Rumbo-Ochoa...

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Field Division has new leadership. DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole has appointed David S. Olesky as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC), covering Southern California, Nevada, Hawaii and the U.S. Territories of Guam and Saipan. Special Agent in Charge Olesky...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito announced this week that MWI Veterinary Supply Inc. (MWI) has agreed to pay $100,000 to resolve allegations it failed to identify large oxycodone HCL orders from a Putnam County, West Virginia, veterinarian as suspicious or flag them to authorities, resulting in abuse...