BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Laura Ricotta, 29, of Buffalo, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and amphetamine, was sentenced to time served (approximately 15 months) by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant...

SAN DIEGO –Escondido pain clinic doctor Bradley Chesler, M.D., has paid the United States $153,000 to resolve allegations that he overprescribed opioids. Dr. Chesler is a board-certified physiatrist who operates a pain clinic in Escondido, California. This settlement stems from the United States’ investigation into whether Dr. Chesler illegally prescribed...

MINEOLA, N.Y. – Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division, Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan and Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Valley Stream man was arrested today for allegedly using a doctor’s prescription pad to acquire more than 13,000 oxycodone and morphine pills during a nine-month...

BRUNSWICK, GA: An Appling County man with multiple prior convictions for selling narcotics has been sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison. Charlie Williams, 38, of Alma, Ga., was sentenced to 190 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Possession with...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Pomona, California, woman was sentenced in federal court today for leading a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in Jasper County, Missouri. Melissa R. Kivett, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 27 years in federal prison without parole. The case...

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge J. Michael Gannon and United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, April E. Hayworth, 31, Indianapolis, and Christina A. Smith, 37, Indianapolis, were charged today on federal drug, conspiracy, and burglary charges. “During this COVID19 pandemic, it is vitally important...

ALBANY, N.Y. – Myra Mabry, age 50, of Catskill, New York, was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for unlawfully distributing opioids, for impersonating her patients and defrauding insurance companies as part of the opioids distribution scheme, and for attempting to obstruct the investigation into her criminal activities. The...

FRESNO, Calif. — Majed Bashir Akroush, aka "Mike Akroush," aka "Magic Mike," 52, of Bakersfield, California, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to structure at least half a million dollars in cash withdrawals from his bank accounts, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux and U.S. Attorney McGregor...

ST. LOUIS – Eleven individuals were indicted today by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to distribute controlled medications, such as oxycodone, without a legitimate medical purpose, obtaining controlled medication by deceit and subterfuge, paying and receiving illegal kickbacks for referrals to lab for urine tests of the patients, and...

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – A South Georgia pharmacy and its pharmacist are accused in a newly filed federal civil complaint with dispensing thousands of highly addictive controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Chip’s Discount Drugs Inc., Chips Discount Drugs LLC, and pharmacist Rogers Wood, of Hazlehurst, Ga., are...