FRESNO, Calif. - Natalie Middleton, 30, of Clovis, pleaded guilty today to laundering proceeds from the sale of synthetic drugs, commonly known on the street as “spice,” Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin announced. “Spice” refers to a...

FRESNO, Calif. - Patrick Mara, 36, of Bakersfield, a former detective with the Bakersfield Police (BPD), pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between June 14, 2012, and October 2013...

FRESNO, Calif. - Luis Fernando De La Rocha-Carlon, 26, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin and Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert jointly announced the plea. According to...

FRESNO, Calif. - Walter Watts Jr., 47, of Madera, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii to 2 ½ years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in...

SEATTLE - One of the leaders of a drug smuggling ring that moved loads of drugs across the northern border with Canada in devices ranging from helicopters to backpacks was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to seven years in prison. Sean William Doak, 42 of Vernon, British...

SAN FRANCISCO - Kia Zolfaghari, King Edward Harris II, and Candelaria Dagandan Vazquez were named in a federal criminal complaint alleging that they conspired to run an illegal fentanyl pill manufacturing operation out of an apartment in the Sunset District of San Francisco, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch...

FRESNO, Calif. - Damacio Diaz, 44, of McFarland, formerly a detective with the Bakersfield Police Department, pleaded guilty today to bribery, possession and attempted possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and making and subscribing a false income tax return, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement...

BOISE, Idaho - Sergio Maldonado-Farias, 39, of Monroe, Washington, was sentenced on June 1, 2016, to 18 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Maldonado-Farias, a Mexican national, is likely to be deported to Mexico at the end of his prison term. Maldonado-Farias pleaded guilty on March...

EUGENE, Ore. - Miguel Angel Reyna-Ramos, 38, was sentenced to serve 72 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams, or more, of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Reyna-Ramos was stopped by police in May 2015 while driving on Interstate 5 near...

SEATTLE - A long-time Skagit County, Washington drug dealer and gang member was sentenced on June 2, 2016, in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Cristobal Ortiz, a/k/a Filero, 27, of...