HOUSTON – The final defendant in a maritime smuggling venture involving nearly 1300 kilograms of cocaine has been ordered to federal prison, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jose Luis Landazuri Valdes, 25-year-old Colombian national pleaded...

BOSTON – DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy announced today that 14 people were arrested and arraigned in connection with a major heroin/fentanyl trafficking organization operating in Methuen and Lawrence, MA. During the investigation, authorities seized more than 25...

DALLAS - The lead defendant in the Han Gil criminal case pleaded guilty today to gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox. Eric Dewayne Freeman, aka “Stuff,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a Schedule I...

SACRAMENTO, Calif . – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Arturo Zavaleta, 39, of Mexico, charging him with trafficking in heroin, methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, United States Attorney McGregor Scott announced. According to court documents, on June 3, 2019...

MCALLEN, Texas – A 53-year-old former bailiff with the Hidalgo County Court at Law #6 has been ordered to federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Oscar...

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle and United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut John H. Durham today announced that on June 14, 2019, Samuel Cruz, 41, of New Haven, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport...

SAN DIEGO – Willian Estuardo Lemus Lara, a suspected high-level cartel boss from Central America, was arraigned in federal court today on maritime cocaine trafficking charges. According to the documents filed in court, Lemus was the manager of the transportation and distribution cell responsible for facilitating multi-ton quantity cocaine loads...

NEW YORK – DEA Special Operations Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher T. Tersigni, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman and United States Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced that Moazu Kromah, aka “Ayoub,” aka “Ayuba,” aka “Kampala Man;” Amara Cherif, aka...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chief U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced today David Flores, 35, of Dallas, Texas, to 121 months in prison and five years of supervised release on drug conspiracy charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Andrew Murray. DEA Atlanta Division Special Agent...

Tampa, Fla. – Thirteen individuals have been sentenced in connection with their involvement in an interstate cocaine distribution conspiracy. During the investigation of this case, law enforcement seized more than seven kilograms of cocaine; nine firearms, including an assault rifle and shotgun; hundreds of rounds of ammunition; approximately $40,000 in...