Three men from Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri have been arrested in connection with an alleged international drug trafficking ring involving counterfeit pharmaceuticals. The arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo of the Western District of New York.
Leeladhar H. Tandel, 44, of Mobile, Alabama; Barry M. Wright, 55, of Marietta, Georgia; and Jesus Andon, 56, of St. Louis, Missouri are charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti and a criminal complaint filed in the case, the Buffalo office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been investigating several online websites such as “MEDDZONLINE.COM” for selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals including Percocet, Adderall, Alprazolam, and Oxycodone. Authorities believe these sites are part of a larger organized operation that ships drugs internationally before redistributing them across the United States through domestic re-shippers paid by the organization.
The investigation began after a non-fatal overdose occurred in Silver Creek, New York in February 2024. The victim reportedly purchased drugs five times from MEDDZONLINE.COM—including Valium and Ambien—with payments traced back to Pakistan despite website claims that products originated within the United States.
Investigators conducted controlled purchases on these sites and identified Tandel as operating from Mobile as a distributor who allegedly mailed at least 40 packages nationwide using the postal service. Wright is accused of mailing out 333 parcels containing Schedule II and IV drugs from Georgia while Andon is accused of shipping 41 packages containing Ambien pills from St. Louis.
The investigation was led by the DEA’s Buffalo office under Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III with support from DEA offices in St. Louis; Atlanta; and Mobile.
U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo urged anyone who may have purchased substances from MEDDZONLINE.COM or related websites not to ingest them and contact law enforcement immediately.
“The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
