DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
36 Results - Showing 1 to 10
PRESS RELEASE

Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl That Killed One Woman, Hospitalized Another

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Thursday sentenced a man who sold the fentanyl that killed one woman and sent another to the hospital in one day in 2019 to 14 years in prison. Zachary Hovis, 24, provided fentanyl to an 18-year-old woman in the parking...
PRESS RELEASE

Illinois Man Sentenced to More Than 23 Years in Prison for Selling Fatal Fentanyl

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a man who sold the fake Percocet pills that killed a man in St. Louis County in 2022 to 23 years and eight months in prison. “I’m going to send a message to other drug dealers,” said Judge...
PRESS RELEASE

12 Kansas City-Area Men Indicted for Fentanyl Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A dozen Kansas City metropolitan area men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in at least one death, and to illegally possessing firearms. Justin D. Rivera, also known as “JD,” 20, Yael Figueroa...
PRESS RELEASE

Illinois Man Found Guilty of Selling Fatal Fentanyl Pills

ST. LOUIS – A jury Wednesday evening convicted a man from Belleville, Illinois, of a charge related to his sale of fake Percocet pills that killed a man in St. Louis County in 2022. A jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis found Deontae’ Tre’Von Overall, 28, guilty of...
PRESS RELEASE

On National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, DEA Encourages Communities to Continue Education Efforts

OMAHA, Neb. – The five state Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, is reminding Midwestern communities to continue education efforts that raise awareness to the life-threatening consequences of fentanyl experimentation and use while recognizing National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day...
PRESS RELEASE

Three Charged with Drug Distribution in Prison Following the Death of Prison Staff Member

FRESNO, Calif. — An investigation into the death of a correctional officer led to the arrests of three defendants today who are charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute controlled substances and introducing narcotic drugs to an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, California. According to court documents...
PRESS RELEASE

Drug Dealer Heads to Prison for Selling Fentanyl to Overdose Victim

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a man who sold fentanyl to someone who later suffered a fatal overdose to 10 years in prison. Dylan C. McMikle, 22, of Jackson, Missouri, provided several lines of powdered fentanyl that the 25-year-old victim snorted early...
PRESS RELEASE

Drug Enforcement Administration Brings Together Families Who Lost Loved Ones to Fentanyl

JOHNSTON, Iowa – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division hosted its third annual Family Summit at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa, June 27, bringing together families from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota representing 41 loved ones lost to a fentanyl poisoning. “This is a somber day,”...
PRESS RELEASE

Guilty Plea from Dealer Who Sold Fatal Dose of Fentanyl

ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Peters, Missouri, on Friday admitted selling the fentanyl that killed one woman and sent another to the hospital in one day in 2019. Zachary Hovis, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of distribution of fentanyl. Hovis...
PRESS RELEASE

Overdoses Drop Nearly 40 Percent Since Formation of Omaha Task Force

OMAHA, NE – Overdose trends in Omaha have dropped nearly 40 percent since the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division Overdose Response Task Force (ODRTF) began making arrests in January 2023. For their efforts, the eight-person team was presented with the Midwest Region High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Overdose...