D. Linden Barber is the Director of DEA Compliance Operations in the Firm’s Health Law Practice Group.

Prior to joining the Firm, Linden served for eleven years in a variety of positions at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He was an attorney in the Diversion Regulatory and Policy Section, the Associate Chief Counsel for the Diversion Litigation Section from 2006-2010, and, most recently, piloted DEA’s Regional Diversion Counsel program as the first DEA attorney assigned to a field office to handle cases involving DEA registrants. Prior to joining DEA, Linden was an active duty Army Judge Advocate for eight years.

During his tenure at DEA Linden’s accomplishments included the following:

• Initiated combined use of administrative action and civil penalties under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to address large volume distribution of controlled substances from wholesale distributors to retailers suspected of diverting controlled substances from legitimate channels leading to record civil penalties under the CSA. 
  
  
• Developed investigative and litigation strategy to address domestic rogue Internet pharmacies. The strategy was used in three major operations resulting in dozens of administrative cases against distributors, pharmacies and physicians.
  
  
• Prepared legal guidance for agents and investigators on forfeiture of listed chemicals that are transshipped through the United States without providing proper notice to DEA resulting in the seizure and forfeiture of tons of listed chemicals worth more than $10 million. 
  
  
• Served as lead counsel in the hearing on DEA’s proposed rule to schedule carisoprodol, the only hearing of its kind in more than twenty years. 
  
  
• Conducted consultation meetings with officials from Native American tribes and Native American religious groups regarding the sacramental use of peyote. Developed expertise in the religious use of controlled substances under the CSA and international drug control treaties.