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Kenyan Family Caught Up in U.S. Drug Trafficking Web

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5 years ago

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California — A Kenyan family living in the Central District of California is among ten people facing federal drug trafficking charges.

The case is related to the illegal distribution of opioids through bogus pain clinics across Southern California.

Harrison Maruje Mureithi (42) of Norco, his mother Louise W. Mureithi (69) and Duncan Muthoni Wanjohi (23) were arrested Wednesday morning by law enforcement authorities and charged in two federal grand jury indictments.

It is alleged that they are part of a narcotics trafficking ring that sold illegal opioid prescriptions for cash through a series of sham medical clinics.

Also charged in the same indictments are Dr John Michael Korzelius, 68, a.k.a. “Dr. K,” of Camarillo, who worked at a Santa Ana pain management clinic where he allegedly wrote medically unnecessary prescriptions to patients who paid cash.

The indictment indicates that over the course of two years, Korzelius and other medical professionals working under his guidance prescribed approximately 439,090 pills of 30mg oxycodone – the highest dose of short-acting oxycodone available, and the dose most popular for the drug-abusing population, according to court documents.

According to a statement issued by the Department of Justice, the charges in the matter are the result of an investigation by agents within the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and IRS (Internal Revenue Service) into ChiroMed.

Fraudulent patients

ChiroMed operated a group of chiropractic, medical and wellness clinics in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

Dr Korzelius, alongside other medical professionals including physician’s assistants, allegedly met with fraudulent patients and provided them with unnecessary prescriptions for drugs including oxycodone.

“The two grand jury indictments unsealed today (Wednesday) charge 10 defendants with a variety of narcotics-related offenses, including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, distribution of fentanyl, and money laundering,” the statement said in part.

Mr Mureithi allegedly coordinated the purchase, collection, packaging, and shipment of oxycodone to buyers on the East Coast.

Duncan Muthoni Wanjohi is accused of assisting Mr Mureithi in the buying and shipping of narcotics.

Mr Mureithi’s mother, Louise, allegedly received packages of cash sent to her son for oxycodone.