DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
1109 Results - Showing 711 to 720
PRESS RELEASE

Two Leaders Of El Monte Street Gang Plead Guilty To Federal Racketeering Offenses

LOS ANGELES - A Mexican Mafia member who is also a member of the El Monte Flores street gang, and another man who was a “shot caller” of the gang, have pleaded guilty to federal racketeering offenses. The two gang leaders pleaded guilty Thursday in United States District Court after...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Baggage Handlers At LAX Arrested On Federal Drug Charges For Allegedly Using Credentials To Bring Cocaine Past Security

LOS ANGELES - Two former baggage handlers who worked at Los Angeles International (LAX) were arrested today by law enforcement authorities investigating the use of employee credentials to breach airport security. Adrian Ponce, 27, and Alberto Preciado Gutierrez, 26, both of South Gate, were arrested this morning without incident by...
PRESS RELEASE

Warehouse Manager Ordered To Prison

LAREDO, Texas - The first of 20 defendants convicted in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 1,000 kilograms of marijuana has been ordered to prison, announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. A federal...
PRESS RELEASE

Jury Convicts Mesquite Man Of Trafficking In Marijuana

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A federal jury in Corpus Christi has returned guilty verdicts against Edilberto Maso Diaz, 55, of Mesquite, on all counts as charged in a marijuana conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson and Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division. The...
PRESS RELEASE

Three Sentenced For Bulk Cash Smuggling

HOUSTON - Two Houston residents and one man from Brownsville have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in the attempted smuggling of a large amount of U.S. currency announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Victor Flores...
PRESS RELEASE

Flight Attendant Who Allegedly Tried To Smuggle Nearly 70 Pounds Of Cocaine Through Security At LAX Arrested On Federal Drug Charges

LOS ANGELES - A JetBlue flight attendant who allegedly attempted to use her credentials to bring nearly 70 pounds of cocaine through a security checkpoint at Los Angeles International (LAX) on Friday has been charged with a federal narcotics trafficking offense. Marsha Reynolds, 31, of Jamaica, New York, was taken...
PRESS RELEASE

Orlando Pharmacist Convicted Of Illegally Dispensing Oxycodone

MIAMI - A federal jury found Valentine Okonkwo, 54, of Orlando, Florida, guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose and 10 counts of dispensing and distributing oxycodone outside the usual course of professional...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Agents Arrest Four Men On Federal Charges Of Distributing Narcotics, Including Pills Manufactured With A Fentanyl Analogue

LOS ANGELES - Capping a year-long investigation, special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration have arrested four Southland men on federal narcotics and money laundering charges. The subjects of the investigation allegedly imported a powerful synthetic opiate from China and produced their own pills that were then distributed in bulk...
PRESS RELEASE

Fugitive Felon Sent To Federal Prison For Gun And Drug Possession

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A previously convicted felon has been ordered to serve 10 years in federal prison following his convictions for illegally possessing a firearm and methamphetamine, announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Doroteo Ray Garcia, 38...
PRESS RELEASE

20 Arrested And Charged Federally In Connection With Drug Trafficking In Central Texas

TEMPLE, Texas - Federal, state and local authorities arrested 20 individuals in connection with a methamphetamine trafficking operation in central Texas announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge...