United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WASHINGTON - Five men have been sentenced to federal prison this week for prescription drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today

Khuda Balouch Buksh, 47, a Pakistani national living in Duncanville, Texas, pleaded guilty on Jan. 16, 2013 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison on Jan 24, 2014 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.  Buksh was ordered to be deported following the completion of his prison sentence.

Sikander Ali Teepu, 29, a Pakistani national living in Wantagh, NY, pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2013 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Jan. 24, 2014 by Judge Crone.

Haroon Ahmad Tanooli, 31, a Pakistani national living in Sugarland, Texas, pleaded guilty on Aug. 13, 2013, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Jan. 24, 2014 by Judge Crone.

Mustajab Ali Raza, 28, a Pakistani national living in Brighton, MN, pleaded guilty on Aug. 21, 2013 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison on Jan. 22, 2014 by Judge Crone.  Raza was ordered to be deported following the completion of his prison sentence.

Saaim Aslam, 31, of Irvine, CA, pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2013, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison on Jan. 22, 2014 by Judge Crone.

According to information presented in court, beginning in 2009, the defendants conspired to import and distribute controlled substances, specifically Methylphenidate, Amphetamine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, alprazolam, and Diazapam, to others by way of a large on-line pharmaceutical operation.  A federal indictment was returned by a grand jury on April 12, 2012 charging federal drug trafficking violations.

;The sentencing of these defendants demonstrates DEA’s commitment, along with our Federal partners from IRS, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the U. S. Attorney’s Office, to rid our communities here in North Texas of the sweeping epidemic of on-line prescription drug fraud and abuse,” said Daniel R. Salter, Special Agent In Charge of the Dallas Field Division.  “Enforcement entities nationwide are aggressively pursuing prosecutions of any individuals who attempt to import and distribute these adulterated, misbranded, and counterfeit controlled substances.  We are proud to be a part of these efforts.

IRS Criminal Investigation assisted DEA by utilizing our financial expertise to follow the money and unravel a complex web of international money laundering transactions that spanned multiple countries,” said Damon Rowe, IRS CI Special Agent in Charge in Dallas, Texas.  “This analysis resulted in uncovering the sophisticated financial network that supported this drug trafficking organization.

This case was the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) joint investigation.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stevan Buys.