ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jeffery Dean Biddle, 41, of Deming, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court on March 2 facing charges of production and attempted production of child pornography, receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography, and enticement and attempted enticement. Biddle will remain in custody pending a...

EL PASO – A Mexican national was sentenced today to life in prison for his role in the Sinaloa Cartel’s narcotics distribution operations. According to court documents, Arturo Shows Urquidi, aka “Chous,” 50, of Juarez, was a former Chihuahua State police officer and a long-time member of the Sinaloa Cartel...

NORFOLK, Va. – A Kennewick, Washington, man was sentenced today to 145 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and distribution of cocaine. According to court documents, Juan Gabriel Rodriguez-Preciado, 44, facilitated the trafficking of kilogram quantities of cocaine between a Mexican cartel...

ALEXANDRIA, Va., – A Los Angeles man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for leading a conspiracy involving the distribution of wholesale quantities of synthetic cannabinoids—commonly known as “spice” or “K2”—and laundering millions of dollars in the proceeds of the sale of that spice. According to court documents...

PECOS – Yesterday, a New Mexico man was sentenced to 240 months in prison for importing and possessing methamphetamine and 60 months in prison for a firearm charge. According to court documents, Jarod Richard Melancon, 38, was arrested on May 5, 2021, after a federal search warrant was executed on...

Baltimore, Md., – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Dwight Antonio Pitts, age 47, of Hanover, Maryland, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in a drug distribution conspiracy involving large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and other drugs, shipped...

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Dwight Antonio Pitts, age 47, of Hanover, Maryland, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in a drug distribution conspiracy involving large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and other drugs, shipped...

ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man was sentenced last week to 14 years in prison for conspiring with others to traffic dangerous drugs from sources across the country into the Roanoke Valley. Stephen Cornell Vaughn Jr., 39, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to...

EL PASO – On February 23, a Mexican national was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in a large marijuana conspiracy. According to court documents, Victor Gerardo Villegas, aka Victor Gerardo Villegas-Villalva, Gera, 34, of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, was a member of the Gente Nueva de...

BOSTON – A Reading man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to distribute meth in and around the Boston area. Aaron Smith, 34, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. to one year and one day in...