National Pharmacy Burglary Ring Busted: 42 Indicted in Arkansas

Federal authorities have announced additional arrests in a multistate pharmacy burglary ring, leading to 42 indictments in Arkansas. The defendants, part of a criminal organization, were involved in over 200 pharmacy burglaries across 31 states. The stolen drugs were transported to Houston and sold illegally.

Federal authorities announced Thursday that additional arrests have been made in a multistate pharmacy burglary ring, resulting in 42 people being indicted in Arkansas.

In July, 24 suspects were arrested in Houston, with some appearing in federal court in Little Rock on Thursday facing conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute charges. This new indictment follows a November charge against 18 individuals from the Houston area.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) linked the defendants to 200 pharmacy burglaries across 31 states, including Arkansas, where drugs like oxycodone and hydrocodone were stolen and transported to Houston for illegal sale.

“These defendants were part of a criminal organization whose objective was to break into pharmacies nationwide to steal narcotics that they peddled on the streets,” said Jonathan D Ross, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

The investigation started after the DEA identified more than 20 pharmacy burglaries from February 2022 to November 2023, led by documented local gang members from Houston's 5th Ward.

Prosecutors compared the indictment to a 2016 case where 24 members of a Houston gang were prosecuted for similar pharmacy burglaries and drug distribution conspiracy.

“This criminal organization prioritized money and greed over the safety and well-being of the American people,'' stated Steven Hofer, DEA's special agent in charge for the New Orleans Division. “Their goal was to sell stolen pharmaceuticals in our neighborhoods for easy money.”