DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Winter Haven Woman Indicted for Fraud in Using Drug Proceeds to Purchase Home

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Rose Esquilin Rios (34, Winter Haven) with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted, Esquilin Rios faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Esquilin Rios that the...
PRESS RELEASE

Twelve Individuals in Central Florida, Puerto Rico, and South Carolina Charged with Murder, Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering, Firearms Offenses, and Fraud

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of four indictments charging a total of 12 individuals with murder in furtherance of drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, illegal possession of firearms, and bank fraud...
PRESS RELEASE

Australian National Pleads Guilty to Participating in Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Conspiracy

MIAMI – On July 29, Jordan Curry, 42, an Australian national from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to launder money and import cocaine from South America through the United States to Australia. According to the agreed upon factual proffer, from 2019 to 2021...
PRESS RELEASE

Former BVI Premier Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Import Cocaine into the U.S.

MIAMI – Former British Virgin Islands (BVI) Premier Andrew Alturo Fahie was sentenced yesterday to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams after having been convicted at trial of cocaine trafficking and money laundering conspiracies for agreeing to facilitate the safe passage of tons of...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Venezuelan Military Official Sentenced for Money Laundering and Bribery Scheme

MIAMI—A former officer in the Venezuelan National Guard was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for participating in a money laundering scheme that involved bribes to foreign officials and defrauding foreign financial institutions. According to court documents, Nepmar Jesus Escalona Enriquez, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla...
PRESS RELEASE

Tampa Couple Sentenced in Multimillion Dollar Money Laundering Scheme

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven sentenced Virginia Garcia Moreta (35, Tampa) and Hector Rodriguez Mendez (47, Tampa) to 70 and 63 months in federal prison, respectively, for conspiring to commit money laundering. As part of their sentences, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in...
PRESS RELEASE

Dallas Attorney Sentenced to Five Years for Laundering Purported Drug Money

Dallas, TX - A Dallas lawyer has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiring to launder money he believed was linked to narcotics trafficking, the DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chávez announced today. Rayshun Jackson, the 52-year-old former defense attorney who ran The Jackson...
PRESS RELEASE

Pasco Man Indicted on Fentanyl Trafficking, International Money Laundering, and Assault Weapon's Charges

TAMPA, Fla. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging Luis Mojica Rojas, 45, of Zephyrhills, Florida, with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; conspiracy to commit international money laundering; possession of 400 grams or more of fentanyl with the intent...
PRESS RELEASE

Local Santa Rosa Lima Cartel Cell Head Sentenced for Drug Crimes, Money Laundering

DALLAS, TX - A local Dallas cell head who worked with the Santa Rosa Lima Drug Cartel and other Mexico-based drug trafficking organizations was sentenced Wednesday to more than 16 years in federal prison, announced Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez Carlos Espinoza Juarez, a 33-year-old Mexican national, pleaded...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Pain Clinic Doctor Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Money Structuring

TAMPA, Fla. – On March 16, 2022, Dr. Zachary Bird (51, Tampa) was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, for structuring cash transactions to evade bank reporting requirements. As part of his sentence, the Court also entered a money judgment in the...