Tampa, Fla. – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Vicente Lopez Mero (67, Ecuador) to 19 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Lopez Mero pleaded guilty on...

PENSACOLA, FLA. – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced criminal charges against four defendants with an alleged scheme to unlawfully divert oxycodone, hydrocodone, and amphetamine. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. All the cases are...

GAINESVILLE, FLA. – Khiri Jackson, 31, of Cross City, Fla., pled guilty in federal court to possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Methamphetamine...

LEXINGTON, Ky. – On June 26, 2025, a Mexican national was sentenced to 100 months in prison for his role in arranging for the collection of drug proceeds in the United States and the repatriation of the proceeds, or their equivalent value, to Mexico as part of a money laundering...

GAINESVILLE, FLA. – Ronald Carl Peavy II, 49, of Old Town, Fla., has been indicted in federal court for possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge. Peavy is scheduled for...

TALLAHASSEE, FLA – United States Attorney John P. Heekin announces the last of four co-defendants was sentenced today in a large-scale conspiracy that distributed over 1000 kilograms of marijuana in Tallahassee. Tyquan Watson, 28, of Tallahassee, Fla., received 10 years in prison. His half-brother, Cleveland Blackshear, 26, of Tallahassee also...

MEMPHIS, Tn. – Quantrese Brazzell, 48, of Memphis has been sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence...

Paducah, Ky. – A Hopkinsville, Kentucky man was sentenced on June 11, 2025, to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Karen...

Paducah, Ky. – A Hopkinsville, Kentucky man was sentenced on June 11, 2025, to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Karen...

Louisville, Ky. – A Mexican citizen was sentenced on June 10, 2025, to 6 years and 3 months in federal prison for cocaine trafficking. Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, and Chief Paul...