Shreveport-based Morris & Dickson Company LLC is paying $22 million in civil penalties after federal investigators exposed a systemic failure to report thousands of suspicious opioid orders to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Louisiana drug distributor, one of the largest in the nation, admitted to neglecting its legal duty under the Controlled Substances Act, allowing massive quantities of hydrocodone and oxycodone to flow unchecked into communities already ravaged by addiction.
U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph announced the settlement today, calling it a direct strike against the infrastructure feeding the opioid epidemic. “Opioids are now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States – killing approximately 130 Americans every day,” Joseph said. “About 40 percent of these deaths involve prescription drug abuse. This settlement demonstrates the Justice Department’s continued commitment to use all of the tools at its disposal to stem the opioid epidemic.”
From January 2014 onward, DEA Diversion Control agents identified over 12,000 suspicious retail pharmacy orders that Morris & Dickson failed to flag. Federal law mandates that distributors report any order that could indicate diversion into the illicit market. The company, which distributed more than 600 million dosage units of controlled substances to roughly 800 pharmacies across 17 states, sidestepped this obligation for years while raking in over $4 billion in revenue during its 2018 fiscal year.
As part of the agreement, Morris & Dickson is not only paying $22 million but also overhauling its compliance program—investing millions to hire additional staff and implement new reporting protocols. The company’s Shreveport facility, a hub for distribution to hospitals, clinics, and retail pharmacies, will now operate under stricter federal oversight to prevent future lapses.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley emphasized the human cost behind the numbers: “The failure to report suspicious orders as required by federal regulations contributes to the opioid epidemic, which has caused devastating harm to individuals and our communities. The settlement with Morris & Dickson demonstrates the resolve by DEA to use all available tools to address this crisis at every level and reduce the availability of highly addictive, dangerous drugs.”
The CDC estimates more than 630,000 Americans died from drug overdoses between 1999 and 2016, with opioid-related deaths quintupling over that period. The Morris & Dickson case underscores the critical role distributors play in the legal supply chain—and the deadly consequences when they fail. The investigation was led by DEA’s Office of Diversion Control – New Orleans Division, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Theriot and former AUSA Shannon Brown.
Related Federal Cases
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- NC Residents Dump Tons of Pills, Battle Opioid Crisis · North Carolina
- Landry Pushes Drug Courts to Fight Opioid Crisis · Louisiana
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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