CHICAGO – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is intensifying its fight against the deadly threat of synthetic opioids with the launch of Fentanyl Free America, a comprehensive enforcement initiative and public awareness campaign aimed at reducing both the supply and demand for fentanyl. This effort underscores DEA's unwavering commitment to...

HAMMOND, Ind. - Alfred A. Cooke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Merrillville, Indiana, and M. Scott Proctor, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, announced that Fernando Porras Jr., 64, of Hammond, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading...

HAMMOND, Ind. - Alfred "Chip" Cooke III, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration – Merrillville, Indiana, and M. Scott Proctor, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, announced a 17-count indictment charging DeCarlos L. Smallwood, Robert Sanders, Kumar Bishop, Sanena Williams, and DeCarlos C...

URBANA, Ill. – Shane R. Catone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Field Division, and Gregory M. Gilmore, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, announced that a federal jury returned eight guilty verdicts on November 19, 2025, against Marcus “Slim” McKinney, 49...

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Shane R. Catone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Field Division, and Andrew S. Boutros, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced that a Cherry Valley, Illinois man has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for distributing more...

DENVER – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Field Division (RMFD) has announced the seizure of approximately 1.7 million counterfeit fentanyl pills from a storage facility in the Denver suburb of Highlands Ranch. This is the largest one-time seizure of counterfeit pills in Colorado history, and the sixth-largest, single seizure...

CHICAGO –The Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Field Division, in collaboration with numerous law enforcement partners and healthcare providers throughout Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, will host the 29th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At nearly 4,000 collection sites throughout the...

CENTENNIAL, CO –The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, in collaboration with law enforcement partners across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana, will host the 29th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Every year, residents in our Division and around...

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado has announced the sentencing of Ameen Alai, aka Adam Powars, 52, of Broomfield, Colorado, to 48 months in prison. Alai pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of ibogaine...

CHICAGO – Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terrance C. Cole has appointed Todd Smith as the new Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division. As the Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division, Smith supports the newly appointed DEA Chicago Field Division Special Agent...