Kentucky surpassed 2,000 drug overdose deaths. Sgt. An official website of the State of Georgia. Gainesville-based Peach State Bank & Trust was recently named among the top extraordinary banks in the United States. In yet another case, a doctor was charged for allegedly prescribing opioids to Facebook friends who would come to his home to pick up prescriptions, and for signing prescriptions for other persons based on messenger requests to his office manager, who then allegedly delivered the signed prescriptions in exchange for cash. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. Agents obtained and executed a search warrant at the location and discovered an active methamphetamine conversion lab inside one of the buildings on the property. Contact Appalachian RDEO. Authorities also seized $205,000 in cash, two vehicles and two firearms. Click the map image above to see the counties we serve. For any patients impacted by the law enforcement operations, DOJ, DEA, HHS-OIG, HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and all five State Departments of Health are deploying federal and state-level strategies to address patient harm and insure continuity of care. In the Western District of Tennessee, 15 individuals were charged, involving eight doctors and several other medical professionals. No front page content has been created yet. London, KY 40741. A practitioner who is unable to comply with the Assistant Special Agent in Charge Aaron Maupin, Counties: Lavonia Pair Charged With Trafficking Methamphetamine Agents with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office said they recovered 255 gallons of liquid methamphetamine solution and 5 kilograms of finished crystal meth. The mission of the ARPO Strike Force is to identify and investigate health care fraud schemes in the Appalachian region and surrounding areas, and to effectively and efficiently prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. Dexter Cobb, 42, and Chester Willis II, 31, were both arrested as part of the investigation. According to a press release from the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, officers with several nearby agencies executed search warrants at the following homes:4605 Blue Iris Way, Oakwood; 178 Gold Creek Dr, Jefferson; 939 West Ridge Road, Gainesville; and 714 Orchard Brook Dr, Gainesville. Cedar Bluff, VA Twin County Narcotics Task Force. Nowhere is this collaboration more important than in our fight against the opioid crisis in America. All rights reserved. The Gwinnett County Police Department is searching for a missing Dacula man who has dementia. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy says fentanyl was identified in 73% of overdose deaths in 2021. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are anticipated. WGCL reports agents began investigating after they were informed about suspicious activity at the property. Talbot, Taylor, Troup, Upson. Both had federal warrants for their arrest. Agents with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office said they recovered 255 gallons of liquid methamphetamine solution and 5 kilograms of finished crystal meth. These cases were brought with assistance from the FBI, DEA, and HHS-OIG, as well as the Ohio Attorney General's Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Ohio; the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and the Ohio Medical Board. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure youre on an official state website. An official website of the State of Georgia. Just four months later, this team of federal agents and 14 prosecutors has charged 60 defendants for alleged crimes related to millions of prescription opioids. To obtain the pills, the surgeon allegedly wrote out prescriptions using his DEA number, and in the names of a relative even though the pills were for his own use, using a drivers license that he had stolen from a colleague to obtain the pills from pharmacy. 2023 Jacobs Media Corporation. Information about substance abuse and opioids is available at the following websites: http://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/pharmacy/opioid-and-heroin.html, https://mh.alabama.gov/understanding-the-opioid-crisis/, Kentucky: If you are in Kentucky and are suffering with addiction you can find help by calling 833-8KY-HELP or logging in at Findhelpnowky.org, Ohio: If you are seeking help in Ohio, please call the OhioMHAS patient helpline, at 1-877-275-6364. Welcome to AHIDTA | AHIDTA This line is staffed Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CT. Credit: Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office. The investigation uncovered over seven types of drugs, and agents arrested two men. . The search warrant and traffic stop yielded approximately 100 grams of meth, approximately 15 grams of heroin, firearms, pills, and other illegal narcotics along with several thousand dollars. Like many other regions of the United States, North Georgia communities have been inundated in recent years with drug overdose deaths. 18 month investigation yields drug arrests - mainstreetnews.com How you know. In July 2022, an investigation began into the alleged drug sales being conducted out of the residence. 15 arrested in $3.5M meth ring bust in North Georgia, GBI says Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. Several arrests were made across North Georgia as the culmination of an 18-month investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the White County Sheriff's Office, the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office and the Hall County Sheriff's Office. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the lab was equipped to manufacture crystal methamphetamine and was located in a horse stable. The Hall County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Banks County Sheriff's Office, ARDEO, Georgia State Patrol and Drug Enforcement Agency Atlanta Field Division were all involved in the investigation. The drugs had an approximate street value of $91,850. An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Drug Enforcement and Professional Practices Branch. ARDEO Establishes New Plan in Drug Overdose Response The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, Hall County Sheriffs Office, DEA Atlanta HIDTA, Georgia State Patrol, and Georgia National Guard Counterdrug Task Force investigated this case. In the Northern District of Alabama, multiple individuals were charged in five cases, including four doctors. Officials said with the amount of liquid methamphetamine solution found, the lab was likely capable of producing more than 700 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, with a . According to the CDC, approximately 130 Americans die every day of an opioid overdose. In the Northern District of West Virginia, a case was brought against an orthopedic surgeon who allegedly used fraudulent prescriptions to obtain tablets of acetaminophen-codeine for his own use. We will continue to work tirelessly through investigation, data coordination and administrative action to protect the health and wellbeing of all Americans.. During the execution of the search warrants, authorities seized 2.5 kilograms of cocaine, 130 grams of crack cocaine, 100 grams of methamphetamine and 18 pounds of marijuana. Two cases involve doctors who were previously sanctioned by the Tennessee Medical Board in connection with the overprescribing of opioids, one of whom was sanctioned for providing prescriptions to vulnerable patients, while the other allegedly prescribed opioid pills after serving a Board imposed term of probation. Two Gainesville men were arrested on Wednesday after a large amount of illegal drugs and cash were found at homes in Gainesville, Jefferson and Oakwood. Special Agent in ChargeTrent Hillsman The following individuals were arrested during this investigation: Christopher Kyle Lee (21, Alto) possession of methamphetamine, possession of firearm during commission of crime; Jennifer Sullivan (34, Baldwin) possession of methamphetamine; Erica Bergman (31, Dacula) possession of methamphetamine; Thomas Tommy Gannon (31, Alto) trafficking methamphetamine, possession of firearm during commission of a crime, possession with intent of heroin, and possession of oxycodone; Marina Whitaker (29, Clarkesville) possession of methamphetamine with intent, and possession of heroin with intent. After a several month-long drug trafficking investigation conducted by the Banks County Sheriffs Office, Habersham County Sheriffs Office, and the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO), a search warrant was executed Friday at 741 Grant Mill Road in Alto and a traffic stop was made on Highway 365 in Cornelia. State of Georgia government websites and email systems use georgia.gov or ga.gov at the end of the address. According to Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Marlar with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the arrests came last Thursday after a routine traffic stop. They executed a search warrant and discovered an active methamphetamine conversion lab inside one of the buildings. This case was brought in connection with assistance from the DEA and HHS-OIG. ARPO is a joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section (HCF Unit), the U.S. Attorneys Offices for ten federal districts in six states, as well as law enforcement partners at the FBI, HHS Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). One of the Department's most promising new initiatives is the Criminal Division's Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force, which began its work in December. Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office. London, KY 40741. In the Middle District of Tennessee, federal indictments were unsealed today charging nine Middle Tennessee medical professionals, including four doctors, four nurse practitioners and a pharmacist, with various charges alleging their participation in illegally prescribing and dispensing opioids and other dangerous narcotics and health care fraud schemes. Tennessee: If you are seeking help in Tennessee: West Virginia: If you are in West Virginia and are suffering with addiction you can find help by calling 1-844-HELP-4WV or logging in at https://HelpandHopeWV.org, For individuals seeking help in other states, please call 1-800-662-HELP. One of the Department's most promising new initiatives is the Criminal Division's Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force, which began its work in December. Assistant Special Agent in Charge Deanna Jury, Counties: In one case a doctor operating a clinic that focused on pain management allegedly provided pre-signed, blank prescriptions to office staff who then used them to prescribe controlled substances when he was out of the office. Investigators said they also recovered a car that cost over $10,000. In another case, an advanced practice registered nurse at a pain management clinic allegedly wrote prescriptions for opioids that had no legitimate medical purpose and that were outside the usual course of professional practice. In addition, the operation includes the participation of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, multiple State Medicaid Fraud Control Units, and other federal and state agencies. The defendant allegedly pre-signed prescriptions for controlled substances, including oxycodone, for patients whom he did not personally examine to determine medical necessity for the prescriptions, and pre-signed prescriptions for controlled substances while he was travelling internationally. In the Western District of Kentucky, a doctor was charged with controlled substance and health care fraud counts in connection with providing pre-signed, blank prescriptions to office staff who then used them to prescribe controlled substances when he was out of the office, and for directing staff at the clinic, including individuals not licensed to practice medicine, to perform medical services on patients. Banks, Barrow, Cherokee, Clarke, Dawson, Elbert, Fannin, Forsyth, Franklin, Gilmer, Greene,Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe,Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Taliaferro, Towns, Union, Walton,White, Wilkes. In addition to assistance provided by the FBI, DEA, and HHS-OIG, these cases were brought in connection with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The MITRE Corporation released a report on May 27 confirming the security of Georgias election system. In one case, a doctor who is alleged to have been at one time the highest prescriber of controlled substances in the state, and several pharmacists are charged with operating an alleged pill mill in Dayton, Ohio. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force, including the ARPO Strike Force, has charged more than 200 individuals with opioid-related crimes. The Appalachia HIDTA mission is to enhance and coordinate drug enforcement efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies within areas designated as High Intensity . Investigative Offices & Services. EPCS mandate may request a waiver by submitting an EPCS Temporary Exemption Request Form. They were charged with violations of Title 21,United States Code Sections 841(a)(1) and 846, which prohibit the distribution, possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. This case was brought in connection with assistance from the DEA and HHS-OIG. The FBI will pursue medical personnel who misuse their positions of trust to blatantly disregard others very lives for their own financial gain., The opioid crisis has had a devastating impact in the Appalachian region, said Principal Deputy Inspector General Chiedi. The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office is a multi-agency unit that consists of the following Sheriffs Offices: White County, Lumpkin County, Banks County, Jackson County, Habersham County, Stephens County, Rabun County, Franklin County, Gilmer County, Fannin County, the Cleveland Police Department and the Toccoa Police Department, along with the Georgia National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Another case alleges that a doctor prescribed opioids and other controlled substances to at least four individuals. The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Attorney General William P. Barr and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex M. Azar II, together with multiple law enforcement partners, today announced enforcement actions involving 60 charged defendants across 11 federal districts, including 31 doctors, seven pharmacists, eight nurse practitioners, and seven other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in the illegal prescribing and distributing of opioids and other dangerous narcotics and for health care fraud schemes. ARDEO investigation nets five suspects, along with drugs, guns and cash, White County man shared life with rock legends, Residents look for answers in Harvest Church project, Woman charged with vehicular homicide in teen's death Wednesday, Kemp unsure if shelter order should end as Habersham cases surge past 200, Mount Vernon Mills plant in Alto closing in 60 days, Demorest wall to be fixed, nearly 3 years later. In that case, a doctor allegedly prescribed opioids in high dosages, dangerous combinations, and in many cases, after having knowledge that patients failed drug screens and were addicts, preferring cash payments and charging a concierge fee that ranged from approximately $50 per visit or $600 per year. Attorney General Barr and Secretary Azar were joined in the announcement by Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. for the Eastern District of Kentucky; U.S. Attorney Russell M. Coleman for the Western District of Kentucky; U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman for the Southern District of Ohio; U.S. Attorney William J. Powell for the Northern District of West Virginia; U.S. Attorney Michael B. Stuart for the Southern District of West Virginia; U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey for the Eastern District of Tennessee; U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee; U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee; U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town for the Northern District of Alabama; U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen for the Western District of Virginia; Executive Assistant Director Amy Hess of the FBIs Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Gary L. Cantrell of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Assistant Administrator John J. Martin of the DEA Diversion Control Division, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Program Integrity (CPI) Alec Alexander. They estimate the street cost of all the . ARDEO investigation nets five suspects, along with drugs, guns and cash Cleveland, GA - The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) has introduced a new plan in its operating area to respond to drug overdoses. 35 year old Dustin Kellum of Lavonia . The defendant allegedly knew that certain of these patients used their Medicare Part D and Medicaid benefits to pay for the medically unnecessary prescriptions. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS In addition, HHS announced today that since June 2018, it has excluded over 2,000 individuals from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and all other Federal health care programs, which includes more than 650 providers excluded for conduct related to opioid diversion and abuse. Agents with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office arrested a Gainesville man on October26 who is accused of trafficking and selling drugs. Special Agent in Charge Fred Wimberly In the Eastern District of Tennessee, at total of eight individuals, including five doctors, a nurse practitioner, a physicians assistant, and an office manager were charged in four cases. Torrance Nicely, 34, was charged with trafficking fentanyl and the sale of heroin. Agents with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office said they recovered 255 gallons of liquid methamphetamine solution and 5 kilograms of finished crystal meth. KRS 218A.182 took effect Jan. 1, 2021 and mandates electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) in Kentucky. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In another case, a physician charged with controlled substances and health care fraud violations allegedly prescribed approximately 300,000 hydrocodone pills, 200,000 oxycodone pills, 2,500 fentanyl patches, and 180,000 benzodiazepine pills, and prescribed medically unnecessary durable medical equipment that was billed to Medicare. Addressing this public health issue and ensuring beneficiaries have continuity of care requires a collaborative approach with our federal, state, and local partners. Since July 2017, DEA has issued 31 immediate suspension orders, 129 orders to show cause, and received 1,386 surrenders for cause nationwide for violations of the Controlled Substances Act. It is also vital that Americans struggling with addiction have access to treatment and that patients who need pain treatment do not see their care disrupted, which is why federal and local public health authorities have coordinated to ensure these needs are met in the wake of this enforcement operation. Galax, VA WEST VIRGINIA. Regional Investigative Offices. Four doctors, a nurse practitioner and a physicians assistant were charged with the unlawful distribution of opioids. A search warrant was conducted at a residence in Bowman by the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office with the assistance of the Elbert County Sheriff's Office, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the Hart County Sheriff's Office . Separately, a pharmacist was charged for allegedly dispensing large amounts of opioids outside the usual scope of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose.
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