RICHLAND, Wash. – On August 23, 2023, Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Amado De La Mora Cardenas, age 35, to over 11 years in in federal prison after his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine. De La...

EUGENE, Ore.—On August 16, 2023, a Deschutes County, Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl to Oregon for distribution. Krista Vela, 39, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. “Today marks a significant victory in our...

BOISE, Idaho – Two multi-faceted, large-scale Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigations have resulted in the federal indictments of 25 defendants on drug trafficking and firearms charges. Seventeen indictments were issued over the last several months by federal grand juries sitting in Idaho along with an additional...

AUSTIN, Texas – People’s Pharmacy Inc. has agreed to pay $200,000 in civil penalties to resolve allegations that it violated provisions of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). People’s Pharmacy Inc., doing business as Peoples Rx, operates five retail pharmacies and one compounding laboratory in the Austin area. During a routine...

POCATELLO – Ramon Morales Jr., 41, of Compton, California, was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison for importing and distributing methamphetamine in Eastern Idaho in exchange for firearms. According to court records, Morales was initially arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol when he was caught attempting to smuggle...

BEAUMONT, Texas – Three Texas men have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Nekia Euron Byrd, 48, of Houston; Rodney...

GALVESTON, Texas - A 44-year-old legal permanent resident from the Dominican Republic has been sentenced in a cocaine and heroin conspiracy, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. A federal jury convicted Emilio Ramon Torres...

SHERMAN, Texas – A Mexican national has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for trafficking drugs through the Eastern District of Texas, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Eduardo Fernando Martinez-Gonzalez...

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 23-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute 210 grams of meth, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jacob Soliz...

LAREDO, Texas – A 38-year-old resident of Laredo has entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division, and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. On May 26, authorities executed a search warrant...