SPOKANE, Wash. – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that in 2023, the office she leads prosecuted 85 illegal firearm offenders, resulting in the seizure and forfeiture of 163 illegally owned, possessed, used, or obtained firearms. Firearms that are forfeited are removed from...

HOUSTON – Six Houstonians have been taken into custody for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically pharmaceutical grade drugs such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Kerry Lewis Walker, 36...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for using his residence for trafficking methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms. Anthony Brandon, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark on Monday, March 4, to 18 years in federal prison without parole. Brandon...

GREENSBORO – Two defendants whose 18-month long drug conspiracy resulted in the death of one college student and contributed to the death of another have been sentenced, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). CYE LEANCE FRASIER, also known as “The Barber,”...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Carl Junction, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for methamphetamine trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm. Chet Edwin Mercer, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Thursday, Feb. 29, to 12 years in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 12...

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Devon Drake, 33, Lacey Fontaine, 33, and Henry Townsend, 28, each of Syracuse, New York, have been indicted and charged with distributing and conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Drake is also charged with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl within 1,000...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's El Paso Division, and Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Danyell Kerr, Jr. was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Kerr, 32, of Albuquerque, pled guilty to...

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Danielle Simonson, age 52, of Fort Ann, New York, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino...

ALBUQUERQUE – Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's El Paso Division, and Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Kassandra Lee Perales and Jared Michael Moore, two of the 12 defendants arrested during a joint enforcement...

BOSTON – A Fall River man has pleaded guilty to his role in a drug distribution conspiracy involving oxycodone pills. Austin Gonsalves, 37, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for May...