DEA Archived Press Releases

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

California Kingpin Found Guilty of Directing Drug Enterprise

DALLAS, TX - A federal jury convicted a California drug kingpin Monday of directing a continuing criminal enterprise by organizing and directing at least three separate methamphetamine conspiracies in Oklahoma and Missouri, announced Eduardo A. Chávez Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas. Luis Alfredo Jacobo, 31, of Bakersfield...
PRESS RELEASE

Dallas Man Sentenced to Life Over Meth Concealed in Cauliflower

DALLAS, TX - A Dallas man who accepted a delivery of $3.7 million worth of methamphetamine concealed in boxes of cauliflower was sentenced today to life in federal prison, announced Eduardo A. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas. Joaquin Salinas, 48, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to...
PRESS RELEASE

25 Charged in Drug Bust Targeting Recording Studio

DALLAS, TX - Twenty-five alleged drug traffickers have been charged in “Operation Papercheck Fresh,” announced DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. During a large-scale operation last Thursday – which involved eight law enforcement agencies targeting nine locations, including a recording studio in Dallas’ Bryan Place neighborhood –...
PRESS RELEASE

Oklahoma Prison-Based Drug Trafficking Organization Resulted in 21 Defendants Being Convicted

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – A three-year investigation into an Oklahoma prison-based drug trafficking organization has resulted in 21 defendants being convicted across multiple federal cases. The wrap-up of this investigation and prosecution is jointly announced by Robert J. Troester, United States Attorney, Eduardo A. Chávez, DEA Special Agent in Charge...
PRESS RELEASE

40 Alleged Meth Traffickers Charged in Operation Kullvid-20

DALLAS, TX - Fourteen alleged methamphetamine traffickers were arrested on Wednesday in Operation Kullvid-20, to announced Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. Led by the DEA’s North Texas Strike Force, the investigation has netted a total of 40 federal defendants plus 2,708 kilograms...
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

12 Methamphetamine Traffickers Arrested in Brownfield, Lamesa Drug Bust

DALLAS, TX - Twelve alleged drug traffickers were arrested Wednesday in Operation Tormenta De Arena (“Sandstorm”), announced Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division During the bust in Lubbock, Brownfield, and Lamesa, DEA agents and their law enforcement partners also seized roughly 27 pounds...
PRESS RELEASE

Twenty Charged in ‘Operation Shut Down Corner’

Dallas - Twenty alleged drug dealers and their associates have been arrested and charged in “Operation Shut Down Corner,” announced DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. The operation – which involved more than 150 agents and officers from the North Texas OCEDTF Strike Force – focused on Hamilton...
PRESS RELEASE

Fort Worth Jury Convicts Whitt Drug Trafficker

DALLAS - A longtime drug dealer has been convicted of drug and gun crimes, announced DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. Following a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted Jerome Thomas Watkins, 44, of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin; possession with...
PRESS RELEASE

Colombian Cartel Member Receives a 27 Year Sentence for Importing Cocaine into the United States

DALLAS – A Colombian man was sentenced to nearly three decades in federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Manuel Camilo Renteria Lemus, 37, pleaded guilty on Nov. 16, 2020, to conspiracy to manufacture and distribution of cocaine, knowing it would be imported into the United States. Lemus was sentenced to...