ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Today, Joel Santana-Pierna and Abel Santana-Pierna, citizens of the Dominican Republic residing in Alaska, were sentenced to 135 months and 72 months imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in masterminding and perpetrating large drug trafficking and tax fraud conspiracies. "The sheer greed of these drug traffickers is clear...

BOISE, Idaho - Jason Lee Holmberg, 39, of Middleton, Idaho, Ute Hornak, 47, of Nampa, Idaho, and Patrick Siemsen, 56, of Meridian, Idaho, were sentenced today for their role in distributing methamphetamine and/or interstate travel and transportation in aid of racketeering. Holmberg was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison...

BOISE, Idaho - Co-defendants Samantha Jo Tackitt and Michael Scott Longhi were sentenced in U.S. District Court to lengthy federal prison sentences for their involvement in a large scale Treasure Valley methamphetamine trafficking operation. Samantha Jo Tackitt, 31, of Eagle, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 151 months in prison followed...

SAN DIEGO - This morning, the Drug Enforcement (DEA) San Diego Field Division's Narcotics Task (NTF) along with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and Health Advocates Rejecting Marijuana, (HARM) announce the total amount of illegal marijuana plants seized in San Diego County in 2013. During calendar year 2013, NTF...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Robin Gattis, the leader of a drug conspiracy involving seven South-central Alaska residents was sentenced on December 5, 2013, to 16 years in federal prison. Gattis and the six other co-conspirators were involved in the importation and distribution of Methylone, a Schedule I controlled substance sold as...

SAN DIEGO & IMPERIAL, Calif. - In November 2010, special agents with the Imperial County Narcotic Task (ICNTF) initiated a California State wiretap investigation into the importation and transportation activities of a Drug Trafficking (DTO) based in Mexicali, Baja California (BCN), Mexico. Dubbed Operation Cerberus, this investigation targeted Sinaloa Cartel...

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho - -Vanessa Louise Wagner, 30, of Plummer, Idaho, was sentenced today to 90 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Wagner to forfeit $5,600. She pleaded...

SEATTLE - The American people have again responded in droves to the most recent DEA-led National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Last Saturday, residents across the country turned in 647,211 (324 tons) of expired and unwanted medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,683 take-back sites that were available in...

SAN DIEGO & IMPERIAL, Calif. - The final tally is in from the 7th National Prescription Take-Back Day this past Saturday, October 26, 2013. DEA and its partners took back prescription drugs at 40 locations in San Diego County and three locations in Imperial County. Over the course of four...

BOISE, Idaho - Rahil Akhtar, 37, of Eagle, Idaho, pleaded guilty on November 4, 2013, in federal court to one count of acquiring and obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud and deception. Akhtar was a dentist licensed to practice in the state of Idaho. According to court documents, from...