ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Zachery Micah Rice, a 35-year-old Asheville man, was sentenced today to 342 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking ring that distributed many kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs in Asheville and surrounding areas, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District...

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Franklin Carlos Fair, 55, of Arden, N.C., was sentenced today to 134 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. According to documents filed with the court and...

COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident, arrested and prosecuted under the multi-agency law enforcement effort called Operation Sweet Silence, confessed to leading a major drug trafficking conspiracy in the community and agreed to serve 20 years in prison under a binding plea agreement with the final two co-defendants entering guilty...

ATLANTA – Six members of a drug trafficking organization have been sentenced for their roles in distributing deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the metro-Atlanta area. “These drug traffickers endangered countless lives by distributing large quantities of deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine,” Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of...

BRUNSWICK, GA: A jury convicted a Mexican national illegally living in Hazlehurst, Georgia at trial for receiving a package from Jalisco, Mexico containing over two kilograms of 100% pure methamphetamine. Ismael Delgado-Celis, 37, of Mexico, was convicted of Possession and Attempt to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or...

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Kelly Woodrow Ross, 64, of Waynesville, N.C., was sentenced today to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. According to court documents and court proceedings, in November 2023...

WASHINGTON — Two Chinese nationals and a California man, all members of a prolific Chinese money laundering organization (CMLO), pleaded guilty yesterday to money laundering charges involving drug trafficking proceeds. According to court documents, Maoxuan Xia, 29, of China, Shao Neng Lin, 58, of Baldwin Park, California, and Zhou Yu...

DEA was involved in a shooting last night during a drug-related investigation as noted by the Calhoun Police Department. We can confirm our agents, and the officers involved were uninjured. We take violence against our agents and partners extremely seriously. The matter is under investigation, and therefore we will not...

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Timario Gayton, 33 and Quonzy Hope, 36, both of Rock Hill, were each sentenced to 15 years in federal after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Evidence presented to the court showed that in August 2022, Hope...

WASHINGTON – DEA proudly joins community organizations, law enforcement, and public health partners in recognizing National Fentanyl Awareness Day on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Fentanyl is the greatest drug threat facing the United States as drug-related overdoses remain the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-44. [1] DEA will...