More Than Two Dozen Boeing Employees Arrested in Drug Sting in Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA—Agents from the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) this morning arrested employees and former employees of Boeing’s Ridley Park, Pennsylvania plant and one non-employee in a coordinated, long-term, undercover effort aimed at prescription drug abuse at the manufacturing plant. Joining U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Zane David Memeger in announcing the charges were FBI Special Agent in Charge George Venizelos and DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Vito S. Guarino.

Indictments against 23 individuals were unsealed today charging each with the illegal distribution of a prescription drug. The drugs being distributed by these defendants include but are not limited to fentanyl (Actiq), oxycodone (Oxycontin), alprazolam (Xanax), and buprenorphine (Suboxone). In addition to the indictments, 14 other defendants are charged with attempted possession of the various drugs being sold by their co-workers. This is a misdemeanor charge which is the reason they are not charged by indictment. The charges allege that each defendant either sold a controlled substance to an FBI cooperator or bought what was believed to be a controlled substance from the cooperator but which was, in fact, a placebo.

The drugs were being distributed on Boeing’s property. Boeing officials brought their suspicions of drug activity to federal law enforcement and have cooperated fully with the long-term investigation.

“This investigation and prosecution focused not only on the sellers, but also on the users because of the critical role that these employees play in manufacturing military aircraft,” said U.S. Attorney Memeger. “Prescription drug abuse has been on the rise in our community, and this is just one example of how pervasive the problem is.”

“Drug abuse and the illegal sale and purchase of controlled substances are serious criminal problems in the U.S. today, and those who engage in the sale and distribution of pharmaceutical drugs will be targeted,” said Special Agent in Charge Venizelos. “The abuse of prescription narcotic drugs can be as dangerous and devastating as the use of illegal drugs.”

“The defendants in this case are accused of diverting controlled substances and selling them to alleged abusers without any medical supervision,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Guarino. “These sales placed the individual abusers, as well as society at large, at risk. Part of DEA’s mission is to investigate the unlawful diversion of pharmaceutical controlled substances and bring those involved to justice, whether it is a doctor, pharmacist, or street distributor.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the DEA. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Faithe Moore Taylor and Ashley Lunkenheimer.

An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.