Arden McCann, a Canadian national, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his involvement in an international narcotics distribution network operating via the dark web. The operation was responsible for importing millions of counterfeit Xanax pills into the United States.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. commented on the case, stating that "counterfeit pill production and distribution continues to pose a grave threat to public safety, especially when trafficked anonymously using dark web marketplaces." He credited the success of dismantling McCann's operation to the efforts of state, federal, and foreign law enforcement partners.
Jae Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, emphasized that "McCann’s actions put profits before public health and safety," adding that the DEA remains committed to holding those accountable who use the dark web for illegal drug trade.
The case also drew attention from Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. He noted the current overdose epidemic and stated that "the FBI will do whatever is necessary to hold criminals who sell counterfeit drugs accountable."
Steven N. Schrank of HSI Atlanta highlighted that McCann’s sentencing "sends a clear message" against drug trafficking. Jason Krizmanich from the Postal Inspection Service underscored the significant coordination required among various agencies to interrupt such operations.
Marie Eve Lavallée from RCMP stressed their commitment to combating fentanyl and illicit opioids through collaboration with international law enforcement partners.
McCann's arrest dates back to October 2015 when he was apprehended by Laval Police in Quebec while selling drugs on the dark web under the alias “DRXanax.” Investigations revealed large-scale operations involving counterfeit Xanax pills made from alprazolam sourced from China.
Despite initial arrests, McCann continued his activities until February 2020. Subsequent investigations showed he operated numerous vendor pages across multiple dark web marketplaces, generating over $10 million in revenue by distributing drugs across 49 states.
Following his extradition to the United States on June 9, 2022, McCann pleaded guilty and was convicted on charges related to drug importation and money laundering conspiracies. In addition to his prison sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee, McCann received a $1 million fine.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including DEA, FBI, FDA, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), with support from RCMP. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brock Brockington along with former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tal Chaiken and Nick Hartigan.
This prosecution forms part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at disrupting high-level criminal organizations threatening U.S security through a coordinated multi-agency approach.