Press Releases
DEA’s Diversion Control Division strives to prevent, detect, and investigate the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals and listed chemicals from legitimate sources. When the safety and health of the American people is in jeopardy, DEA takes action against those who violate the law. Read the latest on these enforcement cases and civil actions.
Diversion News (PDF) (October 2024)
China-Based Chemical Manufacturing Companies and Employees Indicted for Alleged Fentanyl Manufacturing and Distribution (October 24, 2024)
DEA Warns Healthcare Workers of Impersonation Scam Targeting Doctors and Pharmacists (October 24, 2024)
Physician, Physician Assistant, and Practice Pay $300K to Resolve Controlled Substances Act Allegations (October 23, 2024)
Former Nurse Pleads Guilty in Connection with Diverting Fentanyl from ICU Patient (October 8, 2024)
Multiple Pharmaceutical Distributor Executives, Sales Representatives and Brokers Charged in Connection with Unlawful Sales of over 70M Opioid Pills (October 3, 2024)
U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against 18 Defendants in Scheme to Manufacture and Distribute Millions of Deadly Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals Through Fake Online Pharmacies (September 30, 2024)
Diversion News (PDF) (September 2024)
Seven Charged after Federal Investigation Disrupts Massive Counterfeit Pill Manufacturing Operation (September 24, 2024)
Hollidaysburg Couple Sentenced For Conspiracy To Defraud The United States And Health Care Fraud Conspiracy (September 20, 2024)
Civil Settlement Resolves Allegations of Record-keeping Violations Against Savannah-area Weight Loss Physician (September 11, 2024)
Boston Physician Resolves Allegations of Improper Prescribing Practices Involving Controlled Substances (September 11, 2024)
Diversion News (PDF) (August 2024)
Pharmacy Burglary Conspirators Arraigned Today in Federal Court (August 29, 2024)
Members of a Houston-Based Organization Responsible for Breaking into Pharmacies in Rural Iowa and Nebraska Indicted (August 29, 2024)
USAO-Eastern District of Arkansas Announces Investigation Into Largest Pharmacy Ring in DEA History (August 29, 2024)
Devon Physician Agrees to Pay $8,000 to Resolve Controlled Substances Act Violations (August 20, 2024)
Five Defendants, Including Two Doctors, Charged in Connection with Actor Matthew Perry's Fatal Drug Overdose Last Year (August 15, 2024)
Diversion News (PDF) (July 2024)
Philadelphia Area Doctor Agrees to Resolve Civil Allegations of Improper Prescribing (July 22, 2024)
Pottstown Pharmacy Agrees to Resolve Civil Allegations of Improper Dispensing of Controlled Substances (July 17, 2024)
Rite Aid Corporation and Affiliates Agree to Settle False Claims Act and Controlled Substance Act Allegations Related to Opioid Dispensing (July 10, 2024)
Manchester Man Arrested for Manufacturing and Trafficking Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Pills (July 9, 2024)
Jefferson County Doctor, Staffers Accused of Conspiracy, Health Care Fraud (July 8, 2024)
OptumRx Agrees to Pay $20M to Resolve Allegations that It Filled Opioid Prescriptions in Violation of the Controlled Substances Act (June 27, 2024)
Diversion News (PDF) (June 2024)
National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action Results in 193 Defendants Charged and Over $2.75 Billion in False Claims (June 27, 2024)
OptumRx Agrees to Pay $20M to Resolve Allegations that It Filled Certain Opioid Prescriptions in Violation of the Controlled Substances Act (June 27, 2024)
Statement from DEA Administrator Anne Milgram on Done Global Inc. (June 14, 2024)
Former Nurse Pleads Guilty in Connection to the Diversion of Dangerous Narcotics by Medical Professionals (June 14, 2024)
Palomar Hospital Pays $250,000 for Diverting Fentanyl (June 3, 2024)
Diversion News (PDF) (May 2024)
Doctor Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Selling Opioid Prescriptions (May 24, 2024)
Former Wallingford Doctor Who Sold Opioid Prescriptions for Cash Sentenced to Federal Prison (May 23, 2024)
San Diego Pharmacy Pays $350,000 for Mishandling Controlled Substances (May 2, 2024)
Diversion News (PDF) (April 2024)
Anesthesiologist Pleads Guilty to Taking Fentanyl from Hospital (April 25, 2024)
New Haven Pharmacy and Owner Agree to Pay $120,000 to Settle Controlled Substances Act Allegations (April 23, 2024)
Drug Manufacturer to Pay $2.25 Million to Settle Substances Act Allegations (April 10, 2024)
Pill Distributor Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Tens of Thousands of Pills Containing Fentanyl and Meth (April 8, 2024)
Idaho Doctor Pays $96,000 to Settle Allegations That He Wrote Unlawful Prescriptions (April 3, 2024)
Diversion News (PDF) (March 2024)
Chemical Importer to Pay $300,000 in Civil Penalties for Alleged Violations of the Controlled Substances Act (March 25, 2024)
Philadelphia Pharmacy Criminal Pleas and Civil Resolutions Result in Multiple Criminal Convictions and Over $4 Million Recovered (March 20, 2024)
East Bay Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Opioids Outside the Scope of Medical Practice (March 18, 2024)
St. Louis Area Pediatrician Indicted, Accused of Exchanging Prescriptions for Sex Acts (March 14, 2024)
Psychiatrist Sentenced to 48 Months for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substances (March 5, 2024)
Nurse Practitioner Sentenced to 70 Months for Unlawful Drug Distribution (March 1, 2024)
Diversion News (PDF) (February 20, 2024)
Nurse Practitioner Arrested for Unlawful Drug Distribution (February 9, 2024)
Samson, Alabama Pharmacy Liable for $110,000 Penalty for Recordkeeping Violations of the Controlled Substances Act (February 9, 2024)
DEA Announces Settlement with Morris & Dickson Co., LLC (February 7, 2024)
Nurse Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Prescription Scheme (February 2, 2024)
eBay to Pay $59 Million to Settle Controlled Substances Act Allegations Related to Pill Presses Sold Through Its Website (February 1, 2024)
eBay to Pay $59 Million to Settle Controlled Substances Act Allegations Related to Pill Presses Sold Through its Website (January 31, 2024)
Former Physician is Sentenced to 30 Months after Conviction for Diverting Prescription Opioids (January 25, 2024)
Nassau Doctor Sentenced to Up to 15 Years in Prison for Overprescription of Opioids that Led to Five Deaths (January 22, 2024)
Doctor Convicted at Trial for Unlawfully Dispensing Controlled Substances (January 19, 2024)
St. Louis Area Doctors Accused of Illegally Administering Ketamine (January 11, 2024)
Former Nurse Sentenced for Drug Diversion from Boston-Area Hospital (November 15, 2023)
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Day Removes Almost 600,000 Pounds of Unneeded Prescription Medications Across the Country (November 07, 2023)
Ozark Nurse Convicted of Illegally Providing Prescriptions to Clinic Patients (November 3, 2023)
Former Gadsden Pharmacist and City School Board Member Sentenced for Drug Distribution Conspiracy and Tax Crimes (November 2, 2023)
Former Nurse Sentenced for Drug Diversion from Boston-Area Hospital (November 15, 2023)
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Day Removes Almost 600,000 Pounds of Unneeded Prescription Medications Across the Country (November 07, 2023)
Ozark Nurse Convicted of Illegally Providing Prescriptions to Clinic Patients (November 3, 2023)
Former Gadsden Pharmacist and City School Board Member Sentenced for Drug Distribution Conspiracy and Tax Crimes (November 2, 2023)
DEA Executes Operation Bottleneck to Prevent the Diversion of Controlled Substances and Keep Communities Safe (October 31, 2023)
New Jersey Man Admits to Conspiring with India-Based Company to Mail Illicit Pharmaceutical Meds to U.S. (October 25, 2023)
Federal Court Orders San Antonio-Area Pharmacy and Pharmacist to Pay $275,000 Civil Penalty in Case Alleging Unlawful Opioid Distribution (October 11, 2023)
Nurse Practitioner Arrested, Charged with Selling Oxymorphone (October 5, 2023)
Passaic County Doctor Charged in Conspiracy to Distribute Opioids (October 4, 2023)
Justice Department Announces Eight Indictments Against China Based Chemical Manufacturing Companies and Employees (October 03, 2023)
Ferry County Hospital District Agrees to Pay $15,000 Penalty and Implement Corrective Actions to Address Improper Opioid Dispensing Practices at Republic Pharmacy (October 2, 2023)
Physician Charged with Distributing a Controlled Substance Appears in Federal Court (September 29, 2023)
Former Chief Operating Officer of Area Pain Clinics Indicted (September 29, 2023)
New Hampshire Doctor Indicted for Unlawfully Distributing Opioids and Benzodiazepines (September 19, 2023)
Pharmacist Convicted for Conspiring to Unlawfully Dispense Over 100,000 Opioid Pills (September 14, 2023)
Pharmacy Agrees to Pay $250,000 for Improperly Distributing Prescriptions (September 14, 2023)
Former Auburn Physician Pays $135,000 and Forfeits DEA Registration, for Overprescribing Controlled Substances (Aug. 30, 2023)
Austin Pharmacy to Pay $200,000 in Civil Penalties for Alleged Violations of the Controlled Substances Act (Aug. 17, 2023)
CA Attorney General Bonta Announces Arrest of Santa Clara Doctor for Illegal Opioid Prescription Scheme (Aug. 11, 2023)
Physician Assistant at Chicago Medical Practice Charged with Fraudulently Writing Opioid Prescriptions (Aug. 4, 2023)
Missouri Woman Admits Fraudulently Obtaining Pain Pills Meant for Animals (Aug. 4, 2023)
Christian & Missionary Alliance Foundation, Inc. Agrees to Pay $250,000 to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Controlled Substances Act (Aug. 3, 2023)
Missouri Nurse Sentenced for Taking Leftover Fentanyl from Hospital (Aug. 1, 2023)
Pharmaceutical President Sentenced in Counterfeit Drug Trafficking Conspiracy (July 27, 2023)
Doctor Convicted of Unlawfully Distributing Opioids (July 26, 2023)
Suburban Chicago Physician Sentenced to Federal Prison for Prescribing Opioids Without a Medical Exam (July 17, 2023)
Consent Decree Approved Among the U.S. and Cumberland, M.D. based Pharmacy and Pharmacist (July 6, 2023)
Court Orders Maryland Pharmacy to Pay $120,000 Penalty in Case Alleging Unlawful Opioid Distribution (July 6, 2023)
Boise Nurse Practitioner and Patient/Medical Assistant Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Opioids (June 30, 2023)
Fourth Circuit Upholds Former Tabor City Doctor’s Conviction for Operating a Pill Mill (June 26, 2023)
CVS To Pay $70,000 To Resolve Allegations That It Filled Fake Prescriptions (June 26, 2023)
Wilmington Doctor to Pay $170,000 to Resolve Allegations of Unlawful Prescribing of Opioids (June 23, 2023)
Dentist Convicted of Unlawfully Distributing Opioids That Caused Patient’s Death (June 23, 2023)
Jury Convicts Pain Clinic Doctor of Unlawful Drug Distribution, Money Laundering, and Filing a False Tax Return (June 23, 2023)
Three Chinese Chemical Manufacturing Companies and Five Employees Charged with Conspiring to Manufacture Fentanyl (June 23, 2023)
Doctor Convicted of Illegally Distributing Opioids and Other Drugs (June 23, 2023)
Catskill Pharmacy Pays $65,000 to Resolve Controlled Substances Act Allegations (June 22, 2023)
San Jose Doctor Convicted of Twelve Counts of Illegally Prescribing Opioids (June 22, 2023)
Cheshire Medical Center to Pay $2 Million to Settle Allegations of Controlled Substances Act Violations (June 22, 2023)
Former Alaska Advanced Nurse Practitioner Sentenced to 30 Years for Illegally Prescribing Millions of Opioids Causing Five Deaths (June 16, 2023)
Pocatello Nurse Practitioner is Fined and Surrenders License for Unlawful Prescriptions and Fraud (June 14, 2023)
Gloucester County Man Admits Healthcare Fraud (June 13, 2023)
Long Island Doctor Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Illegal Distribution of Oxycodone (May 25, 2023)
Nurse Who Stole Painkillers, Replacing Them with Saline and Putting Surgical Patients at Risk, Sentenced to Four Years (May 22, 2023)
Denton Physician Sentenced for Over-Prescribing Opioids (May 19, 2023)
Levittown, Pennsylvania Physician Agrees to Pay $100,000 to Resolve Controlled Substances Act Violations (May 18, 2023)
Wisconsin Naturopathic Practitioner Sentenced to Twelve Months' Imprisonment for Unlawful Prescribing of Controlled Substances (May 15, 2023)
Communities Across the Country Remove Nearly 664,000 Pounds of Unneeded Prescription Medications to Prevent Drug Misuse (May 15, 2023)
Former Modesto Doctor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Prescribing Opioids (May 11, 2023)
East Windsor Man Sentenced to Prison for Oxycodone Prescription Fraud Scheme (May 11, 2023)