opioid-crisis
19 stories related to this topic, newest first.
winnipegfreepress.comRockford Man Receives 16 Years for Fentanyl and Heroin Trafficking
A federal judge sentenced Rockford resident Donyea D. McCall to 16 years in prison for distributing fentanyl and heroin. The sentence triggers mandatory supervised release and removes a convicted trafficker from the supply chain that has driven opioid deaths in northern Illinois.
channel4.comAddiction Recovery Care Founder Indicted on Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Charges
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Kentucky indicted James E. Baker, founder of Addiction Recovery Care, on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. The indictment triggers a criminal prosecution that could result in forfeiture of assets and prison time if Baker i…
usatoday.comWest Virginia Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Selling Fentanyl That Killed One
Jacob B. Deem of Mineral Wells pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia to distributing 1.4 grams of fentanyl that caused a fatal overdose. The sentence triggers mandatory federal reporting requirements and adds one more case to the Jus…
rove.meWest Virginia Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 15 Months in Multi-State Ring
Matthew Clemont, 33, of Wheeling received a 15-month prison term for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The sentence concludes one defendant's role in a trafficking operation that distributed blue fentanyl pills across the Ohio Valley region.
news.google.comTwo Californians Arrested in Del Rio on Federal Charges of Drug Trafficking Resulting in Death
Michael Anthony Vilorio, 31, and Christian Alexander Vilorio, 22, both of California, made initial appearances in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas on charges including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and alprazolam resulting in death…
foxnews.comMichigan Man Pleads Guilty in Fentanyl Distribution Case
A Michigan man pleaded guilty in federal court to a fentanyl-related offense. The conviction adds one more case to the Justice Department's ongoing prosecutions targeting the flow of synthetic opioids into the United States.
ForbesU.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Fell 27% in 2024
Federal data show drug overdose deaths dropped from more than 110,000 in 2023 to about 80,391 in 2024. Deaths involving synthetic opioids declined nearly 37% to roughly 48,400.
app.buzzsumo.comKnoxville Man Charged With Fentanyl Distribution and Firearm Possession
A federal grand jury indicted Zachary L. Campbell on charges of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges trigger mandatory minimum sentences and signal continued federal focus on disrupting loca…
rnz.co.nzU.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Fall 14% in 2025
Preliminary government data show about 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2025, matching 2019 levels and marking the longest successive decline in decades. Deaths dropped for fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine across most states even as the Trump administration cuts…
calgaryherald.comNew Castle Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Heroin and Cocaine Trafficking
Michael McGee, 32, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, entered a guilty plea in federal court to charges of distributing fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. The conviction triggers a mandatory minimum prison term and requires him to forfeit more than $13,000 in drug proceeds.
newser.comU.S. Overdose Deaths Fall for Third Straight Year
Preliminary CDC data shows about 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2025, a 14 percent decline from the prior year. This marks the longest decline in overdose deaths in decades, with reductions seen across fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. Deaths fell in most state…
washingtonpost.comWashington man receives 5 years in prison for fentanyl trafficking
A federal judge sentenced Christopher J. McCarty of Washington state to 60 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury. The sentence triggers mandatory supervised release and asset forfeiture that closes a documented cr…
The GuardianFederal Agency Restricts Use of Funds for Fentanyl Test Strips
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration issued guidance in April prohibiting federal funding for substance testing strips including those for fentanyl. The letter stated that such strips facilitate illicit drug use and are incompatible with federal laws. Som…
ocregister.comHuntington Woman Receives 70-Month Prison Sentence for Fentanyl Distribution
Brittany N. Cline, 32, of Huntington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The sentence triggers mandatory supervised release and asset forfeiture requirements that extend the case's impact on local opioid enforcement.
sportsnet.caNicholasville Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking
A federal judge sentenced Christopher D. McCowan, 32, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, to 24 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and cocaine. The sentence triggers mandatory supervised release and asset forfeiture that remove trafficking proceeds from circ…
crowdfundinsider.comWashington Defendant Receives 20-Year Sentence in Large-Scale Fentanyl Trafficking Case
A federal judge sentenced 37-year-old Devin M. Bailey of Spokane, Washington, to 240 months in prison for conspiring to distribute more than 4,400 kilograms of fentanyl. The sentence triggers mandatory supervised release and asset forfeiture that closes off financing channels for…
rte.ieFederal Judge Issues Criminal Sentencing to Purdue Pharma in DOJ Probe Resolution
A federal judge has issued a criminal sentencing to Purdue Pharma, resolving a U.S. Department of Justice probe. This step finalizes a settlement addressing thousands of lawsuits against the company. The agreement includes financial penalties and contributions from the company's…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewPurdue Pharma Agrees to $5 Billion Penalty and Restructuring in DOJ Opioid Settlement
A federal court in New Jersey sentenced Purdue Pharma to pay more than $5 billion in criminal penalties for unlawfully promoting opioids and related misconduct. The ruling follows a 2020 plea agreement and includes plans for the company to cease operations. Officials highlighted…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewNetflix Docuseries Explores Hulk Hogan's Life, Pain Management, and 2025 Death
A new Netflix docuseries details Hulk Hogan's extreme fentanyl consumption during his wrestling career's end. The series includes his final interview, revealing pain management struggles after his 2009 divorce. Hogan died of a heart attack in July 2025 at age 71.