FRESNO, Calif. - Timothy Ortiz, aka Michael Fitton, 46, of Waukegan, Illinois, pled guilty today for his role in a large-scale smokeable synthetic cannabinoids trafficking organization that shipped misbranded synthetic drugs interstate from a processing lab in Millbrae, California, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Smokeable synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known...

FRESNO, Calif. - Ramsey Jeries Farraj, 41, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for conspiring with his former business partner, Majed Bashir “Mike” Akroush, 49, also of Bakersfield, to structure $4,204,965 obtained from the sale of smokeable synthetic drugs, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Smokable...

FRESNO, Calif. - Two former deputies with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office were sentenced today for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced Logan August, 30, of Bakersfield, to three years’ probation, $16,200...

FRESNO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Omar Felix-Corrales, 38, and Valeria Silvas Villarreal, 23, both of Mexico, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, and Felix-Corrales alone with possession of a firearm in relation to a drug...

TULSA, OK - Dr. George Cohlmia, a physician with offices in Tulsa and Tahlequah, entered into a settlement agreement to pay $120,000 to resolve civil allegations that he violated the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 1970, announced Special Agent in Charge Clyde E. Shelley, Jr. of the Drug Enforcement...

FRESNO, Calif. - Abudullah Almashwali, 31, a Yemeni national formerly residing in Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today to six and a half years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of heroin and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and DEA Special Agent-in-Charge John J. Martin announced. According...

DALLAS - This morning, U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater sentenced Alejandro Farrera Cendejas, 33, of Dallas, to 240 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in October 2016 to one count of possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, announced...

DALLAS - Jason Edgecombe, 40, and Cy Viator, 34, both of Houston, Texas, were sentenced this morning for their involvement in a “pill mill” operation, announced Special Agent-in-Charge Clyde E. Shelley, Jr. of the DEA and U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas. Viator pleaded guilty in...

LUBBOCK, Texas - Orlando Juarez Cardenas, 41, of San Angelo, was sentenced today before Senior U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 27 years in federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine in San Angelo, Texas, announced Special Agent-in-Charge Clyde E. Shelley, Jr. of the DEA, and U.S. Attorney John...

DALLAS - Following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay, today a federal jury convicted Laroy Damont Johnson, 37, of Dallas, of drug and firearm offenses, announced Special Agent-in-Charge Clyde E. Shelley, Jr. of the DEA, and U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas...