DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Federal Jury Convicts Albuquerque Man of Drug Trafficking Offenses

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that a federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Rafael Columbie on Dec. 1. The jury convicted Columbie, 53, of Albuquerque, on one count each of conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams...
PRESS RELEASE

Large-Scale Drug Traffickers Convicted by Federal Jury

EL PASO, Texas – A federal jury convicted two men Tuesday of multiple counts of drug trafficking. Additionally, one of the defendants was convicted of domestic and international money laundering. Jorge Sanchez-Morales aka “Capulina,” 47, was convicted of two counts of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute; two counts...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA El Paso to Host Family Summit

WHEN: Tuesday, November 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST. WHERE: Hope City Community Church, 6115 Woodrow Bean, El Paso , TX 79924 WHAT: Summit for families who have suffered the loss of a loved one due to illicit substances or have a loved one currently suffering through illicit...
PRESS RELEASE

Juárez Cartel Leader Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Luis Carlos Vásquez-Barragán, 51, of Nicolás Bravo, Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced to prison for possession with intent to distribute at least 50 kilograms but less than 100 kilograms of marijuana. Vásquez-Barragán was arrested...
PRESS RELEASE

Barrio Azteca Gunmen Who Committed Consulate Murders in Ciudad Juarez Sentenced to Life in Prison

El Paso - The Barrio Azteca gunmen directly responsible for the March 2010 murders in Juarez, Mexico of a U.S. Consulate employee, her husband, and the husband of another U.S. Consulate employee were sentenced to life in prison today. “The gunmen who viciously shot and killed Leslie Enriquez, Arthur Redelfs...
PRESS RELEASE

Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 23 years in Prison

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Richard Orlinski “Sugar” Sanchez, 44, of Dexter, New Mexico, was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Oct. 12. On Aug. 26, 2021, Sanchez pleaded guilty to: one count of conspiracy to distribute...
PRESS RELEASE

Mexican National Found Guilty of Importing and Possessing Marijuana

PECOS – A federal jury convicted a Mexican national last week of importing and possessing marijuana. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents encountered Jose Manuel Ayala-Alas, 26, and six other co-defendants hiding in the brush in the High Lonesome Mountains on June...
PRESS RELEASE

Midland Man Sentenced for Illegal Fentanyl and Firearm Possession

ALPINE – A Midland man was sentenced today to a total of 200 months in prison for possessing fentanyl and illegally possessing a firearm. According to court documents, Edgar Parra, 36, sold a total of 112.3 grams of fentanyl to undercover DEA operatives on three separate occasions between August and...
PRESS RELEASE

Cuban national sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking, firearms offenses

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Ali Godoy, 51, a national of Cuba, was sentenced on Sept. 7 to 10 years in prison. Godoy pleaded guilty on May 24 to one count each of possession with intent to distribute...
PRESS RELEASE

Mexican National Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Marijuana Possession

ALPINE – A Mexican national was sentenced last week to 108 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. According to court documents, on January 28, 2022, a U.S. Border Patrol agent conducted a traffic stop on a black BMW SUV driven by Efren Derma-Dominguez, 26. After a...