United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Tampa, Fla. – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Christian Perez-Seda, 38, of Tampa, Fla., to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Perez-Seda pleaded guilty in March 2024. According to court documents, on July 24, 2021, Perez-Seda...

Orlando, Fla. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jackie Jamal Hines (46, Melbourne) has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine . Hines faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date...

DENVER – As most schools are out and Summer 2024 is unofficially underway, DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division is on pace to eclipse fentanyl pill seizure records set just last year. “It is an unfortunate reality that seizures of fake fentanyl pills across our Division – Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and...

MIAMI –DEA and its local law enforcement partners collected 670,136 pounds of unused medications during the 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27, 2024. More than 200 Florida collection sites were available in 2024 with 29,964 pounds of unused prescription medication collected. In its 15th year of...

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...

TAMPA, Fla. —U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Corey Gaddy, 31, of St. Petersburg, Fla., to 18 years in federal prison for c onspiracy to distribute controlled substances including fentanyl and two counts of distribution of fentanyl. Gaddy was found guilty following a trial on November 3, 2023...

MIAMI – On May 17, an Orange County, California, resident, Tenzin Orgil, 24, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for participating in a drug trafficking enterprise that included the sale of methamphetamine and fentanyl on the dark web, as well as the manufacture of ecstasy (also known as...

MIAMI—Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division personnel recently hosted an Operation Engage South Florida meeting with community stakeholders at First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to stress the dangers of fentanyl—especially regarding children. Operation Engage South F lorida is an opportunity to keep fentanyl prevention, awareness, and education...

DENVER – Fentanyl continues to be the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized nationally more than 77 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. Across the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division –...

Today, May 7, 2024 is National Fentanyl Awareness Day. This annual observance is held to bring needed attention and awareness to the threats from fentanyl and fake pills – and the lives lost to poisonings and overdoses. Fentanyl is the most significant drug threat the United States has faced in...