DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Mom Pleads Guilty to Providing Fentanyl That Killed Her Sons’ Father

Dallas, TX - An Albuquerque mother who concealed a deadly dose of fentanyl inside her children’s luggage pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal drug crime. Magdalena Silva Banuelos, 47, was indicted in November 2022. She pleaded guilty Wednesday to distribution of fentanyl before U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn. In...
PRESS RELEASE

Fentanyl Distributer Tied to 13-Year-Old’s Overdose Death Pleads Guilty

DALLAS, TX - A drug distributer who was selling fentanyl-laced counterfeit M30 pills to a Carrollton middle schooler shortly before her fatal overdose pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime, announced Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas Rafael Soliz, Jr., 23, was indicted in March...
PRESS RELEASE

Fentanyl Dealers Plead Guilty in Relation to Overdose Death of Oklahoma Man

DALLAS, TX - A Wichita Falls drug dealer and his ex-girlfriend who sold fentanyl to 27-year-old man who overdosed and died in June 2020 have plead guilty to drug crimes, announced Eduardo A. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas. Lionel DeSaun Henderson, 33, and his former girlfriend, Shameka...
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

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

Meth Dealers Who Plotted to Kill DEA Agent Plead Guilty

DALLAS - Two drug traffickers who plotted to assassinate a DEA task force office have plead guilty, announced Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of Dallas Field Division Manuel Gomez-Garcia, 35, and Jorge Humberto Velazco Larios, 29, were indicted in the summer of 2020. Mr. Gomez pleaded guilty to...
PRESS RELEASE

Panamanian National Guilty of East Texas Drug Trafficking Violations

DALLAS, TX – A Panamanian national has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking violations during his federal trial in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. Jorge Albeiro Silva-Salazar, 53, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five...
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

Heroin Trafficker Who Fled Controlled Delivery sentenced to 14 Years

DALLAS - A heroin trafficker who fled the scene of a controlled delivery has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, announced DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez Frank Alex Juarez, 22, of Terrell, Texas, pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to distribute heroin. He...