DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
306 Results - Showing 131 to 140
PRESS RELEASE

Online drug dealer pleads guilty in fentanyl overdose death

SAN DIEGO – Drug dealer Trevon Antone Lucas pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday, admitting that he sold pills containing fentanyl to a La Jolla man, causing his fatal overdose last year. Lucas, a resident of Highland, California, admitted in his plea agreement that he posted online advertisements for the...
PRESS RELEASE

Jury convicts three men of trafficking $28 million of cocaine

SAN DIEGO – Three South American men were convicted by a federal jury late yesterday of trafficking approximately 1,230 kilograms (2,706 pounds) of cocaine worth more than $28 million on the high seas. The verdict came after a weeklong trial before U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez. “These traffickers attempted...
PRESS RELEASE

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2019

SAN DIEGO – April 7–13, 2019, is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week – a time for law enforcement, prosecutorial agencies, victim advocates and community members to come together and support victims of crime. Enforcing victim’s rights protects victims, enhances public safety and fosters public confidence in our criminal justice system...
PRESS RELEASE

20 defendants charged in drug indictments; One alleged trafficker charged in death of carfentanil user

SAN DIEGO – Three federal indictments unsealed in San Diego this week charge 20 people, including documented gang members and associates, with trafficking in oxycodone, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and ultra-deadly carfentanil from homes in City Heights, College Grove and Imperial Beach. One defendant, Dat Pham Tien Tran aka “Damian,” is...
PRESS RELEASE

Former MLB All-Star Pitcher Esteban Loaiza sentenced to three years for cocaine trafficking

SAN DIEGO – Former Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza was sentenced in federal court on March 8, 2019 to 36 months in prison for knowingly and intentionally possessing 20 kilograms - about 44 pounds - of cocaine with intent to distribute. “Mr. Loaiza lived every young boy’s dream...
PRESS RELEASE

Westside Crips gang members sentenced to 82 months for aggravating role in racketeering conspiracy

SAN DIEGO – A leader of the Westside Crips was sentenced to 82 months in prison on March 7, 2019 for his aggravating role in a racketeering conspiracy involving sex trafficking, narcotics trafficking and other violent crimes as well as possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute...
PRESS RELEASE

Westside Crips gang member pleads guilty to racketeering conspiracy involving drug trafficking

SAN DIEGO – Westside Crips gang member William McKinley Bright today became the last of 12 defendants to plead guilty, admitting that he participated in a racketeering conspiracy involving narcotics trafficking, sex trafficking and other violent crimes. Bright, aka “Slim,” admitted to his membership and association with the Westside Crips...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA achieves significant milestone during 16th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

SAN DIEGO – With the robust participation of Americans nationwide, DEA and its law enforcement partners have now surpassed its 10 million pound goal and collected nearly 11 million pounds of unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications over the course of 16 successful DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back events...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA and partners hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27

SAN DIEGO – After collecting a total of more than 9.9 million pounds (nearly 5,000 tons) of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications during 15 previous events over the past eight years, the Drug Enforcement Administration expects to reach a total of 10 million pounds collected following the upcoming fall...
PRESS RELEASE

Suspected online drug dealer indicted in fentanyl overdose death

SAN DIEGO – Suspected drug dealer Trevon Lucas was indicted by a federal grand jury for distributing fentanyl that caused the death of a La Jolla resident, identified only as C.A.S. in court filings. According to statements made by prosecutors at his detention hearing yesterday, C.A.S. was found dead in...