This archive report was first published on 7 August 2020.
Kenyan Family Caught Up in U.S. Drug Trafficking Web ¶
Published on August 7, 2020
A Kenyan family living in California is among ten people facing federal drug trafficking charges in the United States.
The charges relate to the illegal distribution of opioids through bogus pain clinics across Southern California.
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.
ChiroMed operated a group of chiropractic, medical and wellness clinics in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.
Dr John Michael Korzelius, 68, a.k.a. "Dr. K," of Camarillo, who worked at a Santa Ana pain management clinic, allegedly wrote medically unnecessary prescriptions to patients who paid cash.
It is alleged that Korzelius and other medical professionals working under his guidance prescribed approximately 439,090 pills of 30mg oxycodone over the course of two years.
Mr Harrison Maruje Mureithi (42) of Norco, his mother Louise W. Mureithi (69), and Duncan Muthoni Wanjohi (23) were arrested and charged in two federal grand jury indictments.
Mr Mureithi allegedly coordinated the purchase, collection, packaging, and shipment of oxycodone to buyers on the East Coast.
Law enforcement intercepted a mailed parcel containing a teddy bear stuffed with two bags of oxycodone pills.
If convicted of the charges, the defendants each would face a statutory maximum sentence of at least 20 years in federal prison.
