FRESNO, Calif. - A federal grand jury in Fresno returned an indictment today against Emil Vladimirov Babadjov, 31, of San Francisco, charging him with distributing fentanyl and heroin, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin announced. Babadjov was arrested and...

ALBUQUERQUE - David Nunez of Santa Fe, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to the misdemeanor offense of dispensing a controlled substance, testosterone, without a prescription. Nunez was a licensed pharmacist and the owner of a pharmacy in Santa Fe at the time he committed the...

ALBUQUERQUE - Ivan Romero, 40, the leader of a heroin trafficking organization based in Taos County, N.M. pleaded guilty earlier this week to federal heroin and money laundering charges filed as the result of a 15-month DEA-led multi-agency investigation. His brother, Ricco Romero, 29, and his wife, Melissa Romero, 37...

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Jose Vazquez-Barron, AKA Chepa, was sentenced yesterday to 210 (17.5 years) in prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin. The sentence...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Rideout Health will pay the United States $2,425,000 to settle the federal claims of alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act by three of Rideout Health’s facilities in Yuba and Sutter Counties: Rideout Memorial Hospital, Fremont Medical Center, and Feather River Surgery Center, United States Attorney Phillip...

FRESNO, Calif. - On Friday, December 2, 2016, U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd sentenced two defendants for their involvement in a large-scale smokeable synthetic cannabinoid trafficking organization based in Millbrae and Stockton, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin...

SAN FRANCISCO - Six years after the U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA) launched its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Americans continue to turn out in large numbers to rid their homes of unused medications, including controlled prescription (CPDs) such as painkillers, tranquilizers, and stimulants. On October 22, 2016, Northern California...

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Baldemar Valencia-Alcazar was sentenced yesterday to 12 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin. The sentence...

FRESNO, Calif. - Patrick Mara, 36, of Bakersfield, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, was sentenced Monday to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court...

SAN FRANCISCO - DEA reprises one of its most popular community programs this weekend: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. On Saturday October 22 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. the public can dispose of their unused, unwanted prescription medications at one of 4,700 collection sites nationwide, operated by 3,800...