FOIA Request DEA Records Williamson County Jail Controlled Substa

A formal Freedom of Information Act request filed with the Drug Enforcement Administration seeks every federal record tied to controlled substance registration, prescribing activity, delegation authority, and regulatory oversight at Williamson County Jail. The request, submitted by LeRoy Nellis of Austin, Texas, covers the period from January 1, 2023 to the present and names two physicians along with any other medical personnel whose DEA numbers are registered at, delegated to, or used by the jail or its medical contractors. It also asks the agency to waive fees on the ground that the matter concerns significant public interest related to medical care in a government-operated detention facility.

The request was directed to the DEA's FOIA/Records Management Section at 8701 Morrissette Drive, Springfield, Virginia 22152, and cites the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552). Electronic records are requested at [email removed]. The requester agrees to pay up to $25.00 in fees unless otherwise notified. (No submission date appears in the published record.) The published version states that no modifications have been made to the substance of the request and that it constitutes a preserved public record. The DEA now routes FOIA requests through its Public Access Link; its Requester Service Center can be reached at (571) 776-2300 or [email protected].

“this request concerns matters of significant public interest related to medical care in a government-operated detention facility.”

Who is named:

The request identifies two physicians by name and Texas license number. Dr. John Mark Janes, MD holds Texas License H8939. Dr. Henry L. Higgins, MD holds Texas License L6232. Beyond those two, it asks for records on any additional physicians whose DEA number is registered at, delegated to, or used by Williamson County Jail or its medical contractor or contractors. It also seeks records on any APRNs, EMTs, or medical staff who were granted authority, explicitly or implicitly, to issue or administer controlled substances within the jail. The facility sits at 306 W 4th St, Georgetown, TX 78626. Williamson County processes public information requests through the County Attorney's Office, and notes that multiple agencies may respond to a single incident while the Sheriff's Office is responsible only for Sheriff's Office records.

What the DEA is asked to produce:

The records requested are sweeping and specific. They include:

1. Registration files:

DEA registration applications on Form-224 and renewals, plus current registration status, restrictions, suspensions, or actions.

2. Controlled substance tracking:

ARCOS reports reflecting controlled substance activity, DEA Form-222 or digital controlled substance orders, and any suspicious activity reports or compliance flags.

3. Enforcement and oversight records:

All DEA investigations, notes, audits, or inquiries involving Williamson County Jail, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, and jail medical staff or contractors; all correspondence between DEA and Williamson County personnel; any delegation or supervisory authority filed with DEA regarding mid-level practitioners such as APRNs and PAs; and any records showing controlled substances prescribed, dispensed, administered, or ordered under the listed DEA numbers at the jail.

Why it matters:

The stakes are medical and constitutional. People held in a county jail depend on the facility for medical care, including controlled medications, and they cannot choose their provider or leave. Registration, delegation, and audit records exist to show who may legally prescribe, who may administer, and whether oversight occurred. The request seeks the paper trail that would show whether those controls were followed at one Texas jail from January 1, 2023 forward. The DEA enforces the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States.

What the Record Shows:

The preserved record shows a single formal FOIA request, submitted under 5 U.S.C. § 552, asking the DEA for registration, delegation, prescribing, and investigative records connected to Williamson County Jail and named physicians. It names Dr. John Mark Janes and Dr. Henry L. Higgins, covers January 1, 2023 to the present, requests a fee waiver on public-interest grounds, and commits to paying up to $25.00. The document states that no modifications were made to the substance of the request and that further responses and supporting records will be published as they are received and verified. The open question is what the DEA's records, if released, will show about controlled substance oversight inside that facility.

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