CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that Samantha Marie Vono, 34, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years under court supervision for trafficking methamphetamine. Vono was classified as a Career Offender as a result of multiple prior drug trafficking...

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Pennsylvania man, Jerome Fiers, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation involving large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine. Fiers, who operated as a middleman in a drug distribution network from Philadelphia to Raleigh, coordinated transactions that involved nearly...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- On Oct. 26, DEA and over 4,400 law enforcement partners collected nearly 630,000 pounds of unused medications at 4,600 locations nationwide. This effort to empty medicine cabinets helps to prevent drug misuse before it starts. Locally, the Louisville Field Division, which covers Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia...

ALBANY, Ga. – A Georgia inmate who is a high ranking member of the Ghostface Gangsters (GFG)—a criminal organization founded in the prison system—pleaded guilty in federal court this morning to directing a large methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy involving another prisoner and GFG member, as well as a third co-defendant. Donald...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Drug Enforcement Administration, in collaboration with more than 4,000 law enforcement partners across the country, will host the 27th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day encourages the safe and anonymous...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- National Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s longest-running drug prevention program, kicks off today, Wednesday, October 23rd. To mark the occasion, Louisville’s Big Four Bridge will be illuminated in red lights this evening. “The Drug Enforcement Administration would like to thank the Waterfront Development Corporation for helping us...

RALEIGH, N.C.- A Crip Gang member from Winston-Salem was sentenced today to 480 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Raleigh area. On April 25, 2024, Marquis Peterson, age 30, was convicted by a federal jury of three charges including conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more...

ALBANY, Ga. – Two Southwest Georgia residents with criminal pasts pleaded guilty to federal charges resulting from an armed drug trafficking investigation conducted by local, state and federal level law enforcement agencies. Justin Harris Vinson, 42, of Warwick, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Sept...

SAVANNAH, GA: A physician who operates weight-loss clinics in the Savannah area has agreed to pay civil penalties and to accept increased oversight to resolve allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act. Dr. Donald Lyle Gates, who operates three Savannah-area Scale Solutions clinics, reached a settlement with the Southern...

NEW BERN, N.C. – Christian Ricardo Arce-Cazares, a 36-year-old resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, illegally present in the United States has been sentenced to 150 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting the distribution of...