United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - Javier F. Peña, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement (DEA), Caribbean Division, announced the arrest of two individuals in possession crack, cocaine of multiple firearms and ammunition. On April 9, 2011, Mancio VICENTE-Lucas and Josue DIAZ-Bermudez were arrested by DEA and PRPD Agents...

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - Drug Enforcement (DEA) and Department of Homeland (DHS) law enforcement officers arrested two suspected Dominican smugglers Thursday, seizing 155 pounds of cocaine with a street value of approximately $1.6 million and a 20-foot (vola) following a multi-agency at-sea interdiction in the Mona Passage. The crew...

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Christopher Vassalluzzo, D.O., 47, of New Hope, PA, pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to operate an office that was, in fact, a “pill mill” that distributed millions of prescription controlled substance diet drugs outside a professional practice. Vassalluzzo’s office, where he had others operate...

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - U.S. Customs and Border (CBP) marine interdiction agents stopped a vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico that was transporting 290 pounds of cocaine, as a result of an operation coordinated by the Caribbean Corridor Strike (CCSF) member agencies. During a routine patrol, a CBP...

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Zachary Young, 52, and Mark Williams, 27, both of Philadelphia, were convicted today of a drug conspiracy in which a phony arrest was orchestrated in order to steal drugs from a drug dealer. At the time of the crime, Williams was a Philadelphia Police Officer assigned to...

PITTSBURGH, PA - Thirty-eight individuals have been charged in three separate indictments with violating federal narcotics trafficking and firearms laws, United States Attorney in the Western District of Pennsylvania David J. Hickton and other federal law enforcement officials announced today. “We want to advise violent criminals who tyrannize the neighborhoods...

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Erik Todd Trovarello, 35, of Philadelphia, Penn., was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Petrese B. Tucker, to 24 months in prison, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In addition to the prison term, Judge Tucker ordered Trovarello to...

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Michael Cupeto, 48, of Elk Mills, Maryland, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Court Senior Judge John P. Fullam for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced Zane...

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - On February 10, 2011, a federal grand jury indicted nine individuals as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement (DEA), jointly with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police (PRPD), announced today United States Attorney Rosa Emilia...

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - U.S. Coast Guardsmen and U.S. Customs and Border (CBP) agents, working jointly with DEA lead Caribbean Corridor Strike (CCSF), arrested two suspected Dominican smugglers and seized approximately 95 kilograms of cocaine and an 18-foot (yola), following an at-sea interdiction Monday in the Mona Passage. The...