ATLANTA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, in partnership with the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, has released an opioid public service announcement that reminds Georgians that the opioid epidemic demands the urgent attention of everyone in our community. “Fighting this epidemic...

ATLANTA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, in partnership with the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, have released an opioid public service announcement to remind Georgians that the opioid epidemic demands the urgent attention of everyone in our community. “Georgians unfortunately have...

(MONTGOMERY, Ala.) - A Verbena, Alabama man, James Calvin Talley, Jr., 37, was sentenced to life in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, using a phone to facilitate a drug crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Drug...

(MONTGOMERY, Ala.) - On Monday, June 11, 2018, a physician, Dr. Willie J. Chester, 65, of Pike Road, Alabama, pleaded guilty in the ongoing “pill mill prosecution” arising out of a now-closed Montgomery medical office, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bret Hamilton and United States...

(ATLANTA, Ga.) – Edgar Valdez-Villareal, a/k/a La Barbie, who was born in the U.S. and rose to be a high-level leader of Mexico’s Beltran-Leyva Cartel, has been sentenced to 49 years and one month in federal prison on charges of cocaine trafficking and money laundering. “Edgar Valdez-Villareal a/k/a “La Barbie”...

(HATTIESBURG, Miss.) - Juan Pablo Zamora Gomez, 32, of Modesto, California, pled guilty yesterday before a U.S. District U.S. District Judge to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith and U.S. Attorney...

(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) – R. Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced today that Dr. Michael Alson Smith, 65, a former Mt. Holly, N.C. family practice physician, appeared in federal court today and pleaded guilty to drug distribution, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges...

(ATLANTA) – Victor Aguirre-Rodriguez was sentenced to federal prison for his role in a Mexican methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking organization that distributed approximately 100 kilograms of methamphetamine per week (valued at $1.75 million per week) in the Atlanta area. Aguirre-Rodriguez was convicted by a federal jury on February 16, 2018...

(JACKSON, Miss.) - Eleven individuals are facing federal drug charges in multiple indictments unsealed on Wednesday targeting a large, multi-state drug trafficking operation in East Central Mississippi, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith, U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles...

RALEIGH, N.C. - Jorge Armando Ramirez-Lira, also known as Negro, Jorge Beltran-Carillo, and Edgar Nava-Baltazar, was sentenced to an additional eight years and one month in prison for importing heroin into the U.S. from Colombia and laundering the drug proceeds. “DEA is fully committed to tirelessly pursuing criminals who sell...