17 Arrested, Accused of Posing as DEA Agents

Posted: May 29, 2014 3:29 PM

WESLACO - The Drug Enforcement Administration said it arrested 17 people, who were posing as DEA agents in a scheme to blackmail people around the country. DEA officials said the defendants are from the Dominican Republic.

According to prosecutors, the group targeted victims, who they believed had illegally bought prescription drugs through Internet websites or call centers located in the Dominican Republic.

A member of the conspiracy would allegedly call a victim located in the United States and identify himself or herself as a DEA agent or representative of another United States agency. The victim would then be told he or she was under investigation for illegally purchasing prescription drugs, and the only way to avoid arrest and jail would be to pay a "fine" or some other fee to the DEA.

In total, the defendants and others who participated in this scheme and copycat schemes demanded at least $3.5 million and received at least $880,000 in payments from victims in the United States.

Four defendants remain at large. The websites and call centers at issue sold pills to customers that would typically require a doctor's prescription to purchase.

http://www.krgv.com/news/17-arrested...as-dea-agents/