WASHINGTON – Terrance C. “Terry” Cole was sworn in as DEA Administrator on July 23, 2025, following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Mr. Cole is a distinguished public servant who has spent more than 31 years in law enforcement, 22 of which were at DEA fighting the drug cartels...

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Carl Wayne Hite...

LAREDO, Texas – A 34-year-old resident of Laredo has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Cynthia Elizabeth Arellano...

LAREDO, Texas – A 41-year-old resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been sentenced for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Walter...

LAREDO, Texas – A 33-year-old Laredo man has been sentenced for possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Raul Garcia Jr. aka Rule...

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Livingston man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Jerry Wayne Akins, II, 37...

BROOKLYN, NY – José Adolfo Macías Villamar, aka "Fito,” a citizen of Ecuador, was arraigned in federal court in the Eastern District of New York on Monday for crimes allegedly committed as the leader of the Los Choneros Transnational Criminal Organization. Based in Ecuador, Los Choneros is believed to be...

A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Tomaas Herron Stittem, 29, pleaded guilty to possession...

LAREDO, Texas - Two people have been ordered to federal prison for their roles in a two-year, multimillion-dollar trade-based money laundering conspiracy to move drug trafficking proceeds through Texas to Mexico. Mauricio Anzures-Zarate, 53, Mexico City, Mexico, and Beatriz Salcedo-Carreon, 63, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, pleaded guilty April 15, 2024, and...

HOUSTON – A 36-year-old Houston resident has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Velasquez-Nikki Saadia Porter admitted to conspiring to distribute nearly 200 grams of...