DEA Archived Press Releases

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

St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A St. Louis man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute kilogram-quantities of heroin in the Springfield, Mo., area. Alphonso L. Battle, 55, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to participating in a conspiracy to distribute...
PRESS RELEASE

Owner of Rockstar Burgers Pleads Guilty to Making Restaurant Available to Drug Traffickers in $1.7 Million Conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The owner of the Rockstar Burgers restaurant in Kansas City, Mo., has pleaded guilty in federal court to allowing his former restaurant building to be used in a drug trafficking conspiracy that is alleged to have distributed more than 150 kilograms of methamphetamine and more than...
PRESS RELEASE

Heroin Trafficking, Illegal Firearm Results in 15 Year Sentence

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and for illegally possessing a firearm. Derrick L. Hall, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA St. Louis Division Breaks Fentanyl Seizure Record

ST. LOUIS – The Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division broke its fentanyl seizure record in fiscal year 2022 with more than 671 pounds of the deadly opioid seized through Missouri, Kansas and southern Illinois. That’s a 41% increase over the 396 pounds seized in the last fiscal year, and...
PRESS RELEASE

Jefferson City Man Charged with Heroin Trafficking

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo., man was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing heroin to distribute. Tremaine Davol Bell, 41, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City with one count of possessing heroin to distribute. Bell remains...
PRESS RELEASE

Trafficker Behind Poly-Drug Distribution Network Sentenced

ST. LOUIS -- U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp sentenced a man who ran a drug ring in St. Louis to 20 years in prison. James L. Brownridge, 49, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty July 28 to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine...
PRESS RELEASE

New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty After Suitcase with Three Kilos of Cocaine is Found on Bus

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Jersey City, New Jersey, man whose suitcase, which contained more than three kilograms of cocaine, was found aboard a bus traveling through Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Jose A. Cordero, 31, pleaded...
PRESS RELEASE

Three Business Owners Charged with Wiring Drug Trafficking Money to Mexico

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The owners of three money wiring businesses in the Kansas City metropolitan area are among five new defendants charged for their roles in a $4.7 million conspiracy to distribute more than 335 kilograms of methamphetamine and 22 kilograms of heroin, and to utilize wire transfers to...
PRESS RELEASE

Drug Trafficker Found with Gun Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison

WICHITA, Kan. – A Kansas man has been sentenced to 24 years and seven months in prison for drug trafficking crimes. In March 2022, a federal jury convicted Travis Vontress, 45, of Wichita, of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, and being in possession of a firearm in furtherance...
PRESS RELEASE

Guns and Drug End with 10 Years in Prison for St. Louis County Man

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a St. Louis County man to 10 years in prison for drug and gun crimes. Bryant Taylor, 31, sold oxycodone, heroin and fentanyl to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration Agent and a person working for the DEA in...