From: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration <dea@...>
Subject: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Weekly Digest Bulletin
To: leightonjulye@...
Date: Sunday, June 14, 2009, 7:24 PM

You have requested to receive a Weekly Digest e-mail from U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Message: 1
From: "U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration" Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 10:47:12 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration News Releases Update

Southern California Doctor Pleads Guilty to Steroid Distribution, HGH Importation, and Money Laundering
Physician Admits Distributing Steroids Without Medical Justification

JUN 03 -- SAN JOSE – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams announced that Dr. Ramon Scruggs pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of conspiracy to illegally distribute anabolic steroids and illegally smuggle human growth hormone into the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and one count of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A).

You are subscribed to News Releases for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

---

Message: 2
From: "U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration" Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 08:42:59 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Dateline DEA Update

Dateline DEA

DEA's Biweekly E-mail Informant

 

June 5, 2009

 

Top Stories from the Drug Enforcement Administration May 23 to June 5, 2009 _____________________________________________________________________________

 

73 Arrested in Texas Steroid Bust

 

On May 28^th the arrest of 73 defendants targeted in an investigation dubbed Operation “Farmacia de Juicy Phruit” was announced by DEA. This operation began in August 2006 and uncovered an elaborate, international drug trafficking network involved in the distribution of hundreds of thousands of dosage units of anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, MDMA (ecstasy) and controlled pharmaceuticals. It is by far the largest drug enforcement operation successfully executed in Fort Bend County history. Those defendants in federal custody now face charges that include money laundering, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and conspiracy to manufacture and possess a controlled substance. 

 

Click Here to Read the DEA Press Release

 

 

California Doctor Pleads Guilty to Steroid Distribution, Money Laundering, and More

Dr. Ramon Scruggs, 61, of Tustin, California, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 6, 2008 and charged with the illegal distribution of anabolic steroids, the illegal smuggling of human growth hormone into the United States, misbranding drugs held for sale with intent to defraud and mislead, and money laundering charges. Under the plea agreement announced June 2, Dr. Scruggs is pleading to the counts charging him with conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids, bringing human growth hormone into the United States, and one money laundering count.   

 

Click Here to Read the DEA Press Release

 

 

International Drug Smuggler Sentenced To 23 Years In Prison

 

Peter Nguyen, 47, formerly of Philadelphia, was sentenced on May 26, 2009 to 23 years federal prison for his August 2008 conviction on numerous drug charges including conspiracy to import and distribute large amounts of ecstasy pills and marijuana from his suppliers in Canada. From 2004 to 2006, Peter Nguyen was one of the largest Asian drug dealers in Philadelphia. Nguyen obtained large amounts of Ecstasy pills and marijuana from his suppliers in Canada and elsewhere, which he then distributed across the eastern seaboard. Nguyen met many of these drug dealers at the casinos in Atlantic City which he frequented. In early 2006, Peter Nguyen had an argument over money with a fellow drug dealer and was forced to move his operations elsewhere. Nonetheless, Nguyen was able to continue his drug dealing operation. For example, in August 2006, Nguyen arranged for his Canadian supplier to smuggle a shipment of 60,000 Ecstasy pills into the United States which was destined for New Orleans. These drugs had a street value of a $1 million. Unbeknownst to Nguyen, the DEA had wiretapped the cell phones of one of his associates which led to Nguyen’s ultimate arrest.

 

Click Here to Read the DEA Press Release

 

 

Leader of Mexican Drug Trafficking Ring Gets 20 Years Behind Bars

 

On May 26, 2009, Jose Barraza-Vidal was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Barraza-Vidal was the Seattle-based leader of an international cocaine and methamphetamine drug trafficking organization. Over the period of a year, Washington and Idaho law enforcement authorities used court authorized wiretaps to track the activities of the organization and made arrests as they transported 15 kilograms of cocaine and 4 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico to Seattle. More than two dozen people were arrested in Washington and Idaho, and law enforcement seized 50 kilograms of cocaine, 16 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately $940,000 in cash, and numerous cars and boats.

 

Click Here to Read the DEA Press Release

______________________________________________________________________________

DID YOU KNOW? 

Did you know that prescription drug abuse is a significant and growing problem in the United States, particularly among teens and young adults? For example, in the United States unintentional deaths due to drug poisoning, primarily with prescription drugs, increased 68.3 percent between 1999 and 2004. DEA has developed a resource for parents and caregivers (www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com) to identify drug abuse, prevent children from using drugs, and find resources for substance abuse prevention. For more information on prescription drug abuse, click here.

You are subscribed to Dateline DEA for U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

---

You have received this e-mail because you have asked to be notified of changes to the U.S. Department of Justice Web site. Update your subscription to this service, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@.... If you have questions about the Department of Justice Web site, please contact webmaster@....

GovDelivery is providing this service on behalf of the Department of Justice and may not use your subscription information for any other purposes.

Department of Justice Privacy Policy
GovDelivery Privacy Policy

U.S. Department of Justice · 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW · Washington, DC 20530 · 800-439-1420