Posts Tagged ‘narcotics’
Nearly 125 arrested in sweeping mob roundup
The criminal accusations spanned several states and several decades, encompassing figures from seven mob families, and led to the arrest of nearly 125 people on federal charges on Thursday…
The charges were included in 16 indictments handed up in federal courts in four jurisdictions. Taken together, they amounted to what federal officials called the “largest mob roundup in F.B.I. history…”
The sweep began before dawn, with 800 federal agents and state and local investigators fanning out across the region. The targets, officials said, ran the gamut from what they called small-time bookmakers and shakedown artists to mob middle managers and the entire current leadership of the Colombo crime family, as well as two senior Gambino family figures. Prosecutors said 34 made members of New York’s five crime families — Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese and Luchese — and crime families in New Jersey and New England were among those arrested.
By taking out the leadership of the Colombos and charging large numbers of reputed crime figures from the other families, the F.B.I. and federal prosecutors hoped the case would have a significant impact. But at the same time, officials acknowledged that the mob had shown itself to be remarkably resilient.
At the news conference, Eric Holder also announced that the Justice Department was merging its Organized Crime and Racketeering Section with its Gang Unit, a move he said would provide more-experienced prosecutors and increased resources for cases like the one announced on Thursday…
Most of the defendants whom prosecutors characterized as higher-ranking mob figures were held without bail after pleading not guilty.
RTFA for the details. Lots of details.
Coming from the streets I come from – I was relieved not to see the names of anyone I know. Not that I ever hung out with anyone who was a made man. One mob “associate” back in southern New England was part of the class action suit – with me – that won a judgement against the FBI for illegal wiretapping. Most of the plaintiffs were political rather than criminal targets. Not that the FBI cared much.
My gumba was offered a chance to become a made man a few years later – and turned it down. Like a lot of 2nd-generation Italian-Americans he had relatives on both sides of the street.
Nice to see the FBI spend some time – productive time at that – on something of benefit to the whole nation.
FDA warns makers of unapproved narcotics
Seeking to remove unapproved drugs from the marketplace, the Food and Drug Administration has ordered nine companies to stop manufacturing narcotics whose therapeutic claims have not been proved.
The FDA’s warning letters notified the companies they may be subject to legal action if they do not stop manufacturing and distributing “prescription unapproved products” that include high-concentrate morphine sulfate oral solutions and immediate-release tablets containing morphine sulfate, hydromorphone or oxycodone.
This action does not include oxycodone capsules. All of these drugs are used for pain relief and are forms of previously approved medications…
If these drugs are not off the market by those deadlines, a company could face seizure of the narcotics and legal action…
The FDA believes Americans have access to plenty of legal narcotics for pain relief and removing these unapproved drugs will not create a shortage.
Anyone remember the FDA standing up on their hind legs like this…oh, say, a couple of years ago?
