SEATTLE, Wash. – A U.S. citizen deeply enmeshed in an international drug smuggling conspiracy was sentence in U.S. District Court in Seattle to five years in prison. Just over a year ago, law enforcement teams from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Seattle Police Department and IRS Criminal Investigation executed 24...

ALBUQUERQUE – A Texas woman is facing federal charges after U.S. Border Patrol agents seized more than 20 pounds of cocaine from her vehicle during a checkpoint inspection south of Alamogordo, New Mexico. According to court documents, on the afternoon of June 16, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered Aurelia...

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Erlan Eduardo Cruz-Acosta was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison for illegal reentry following removal, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Senior U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick handed down the sentence. Cruz-Acosta, 41, a national of Honduras, was indicted...

FRESNO, Calif. — Jose Miguel Perez, 42, of Corona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 11 years and three months in prison for possessing more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 1 kilogram heroin with intent to distribute, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith...

McALLEN, Texas – A 40-year-old Mexican national illegally in the United States has been ordered to prison for possessing narcotics with the intent to distribute, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei. Miguel Angel Reyes-Sanchez pleaded...

HOUSTON – 23 people are now in custody for various drug trafficking, firearms and money laundering charges following major law enforcement operations in Houston/Galveston and Rio Grande Valley areas of Texas this week, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division William Kimbell and...

BOSTON – A Lawrence man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for leading a large-scale drug trafficking organization that distributed fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine. Joseph Correa, 35, was sentenced by on Friday, June 6, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley to 18 years in prison and...

BOSTON – A Mexican man, and member of a Tijuana-based Sinaloa Cartel cell, pleaded guilty to his role in a cocaine and money laundering conspiracy. Eber Alain Estrada Palafox, also known as “Doctor”, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, one count of conspiracy to distribute...

BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty to his involvement in money laundering and cocaine conspiracies. Victor Berroa Mercedes, 32, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled...

BOSTON – A Colombian man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering organization that laundered more than $6 million in drug trafficking proceeds from Colombian cartels through the United States, Caribbean and European banking systems. Jaime Humberto Mejia-Bencardino, 62, was...