MACON, Ga. – The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia, together with law enforcement partners, today announced significant developments in three Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigations targeting cartel-linked drug trafficking organizations responsible for the armed distribution of large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine and resulting...

On October 27, 2026, Donelfert Monterroso Vasquez, 51, a Guatemalan national, pleaded guilty to conspiring to import more than 450 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. According to court documents, Monterroso Vasquez coordinated the movement of multi-hundred-kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia through his location in Guatemala and on...

LONDON, Ky. – On Monday, October 19th, 2026, a Statesville, NC, man, Luis Ruiz-Mejia, 48, was sentenced to 156 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. According to his plea agreement, from on or about September 30...

WHEELING, W.Va. – A Wheeling, West Virginia man will spend the next five years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine near a playground, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Matthew Luff, 42, sold more than 13 grams of methamphetamine near Heritage Port Playground in Wheeling. Luff has multiple prior convictions...

WHEELING, W. Va. — Two South Carolina men have admitted to trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in Ohio County. U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey made the announcement on October 8, 2026. Phillip Johnson, also known as “PNut,” and Mark Chisholm, also known as “Infant Premo,” pleaded guilty...

GREENEVILLE Tenn. – On October 7, 2026, Dwayne “DJ” Turner, 38, of Knoxville, was sentenced to 250 months by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his release, Turner will be on supervised...

Louisville, Ky. – A Mexican national illegally and unlawfully living in Louisville was sentenced on October 7, 2026, to 10 years in prison for distribution of cocaine, possession of a firearm by an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a...

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two Richmond, Ky., residents, Destiny Burns, 24, and Aaron Whittamore, 33, were sentenced to 11 years and 12 years in prison, respectively, on Monday, October 5, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Chad Meredith for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent...

MACON, Ga. – A federal jury found a Macon resident guilty of armed drug trafficking, including distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine while in possession of a machine gun, resulting from an Operation Take Back America investigation. “This conviction holds a repeat offender accountable for distributing dangerous drugs,” said Michael J. Connolly...

WILMINGTON, N.C.– A federal judge sentenced Lara Joy Ezell, 42, to over 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of meth and distribution of 50 grams or more of meth. Ezell pleaded guilty to the charges on June...