DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Leaders of Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle over 43,000 Kilos of Cocaine into the United States

TAMPA, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jorge Hernan Gonzalez-Ortiz, 50, of Colombia, and Carlos Andres Aldana-Gil, 43, also of Colombia, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. Each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date...
PRESS RELEASE

South Texas Dealer Sentenced for Selling Fentanyl to Teenager Resulting in Death

LAREDO, Texas – A 23-year-old resident of Laredo has been sentenced for providing fentanyl to a 15-year-old, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jose Antonio Carlos III aka Jose Carlos pleaded guilty Jan. 4...
PRESS RELEASE

Woman Sentenced To 25 Years in Federal Prison for Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Meth Distribution

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Miranda Marie Stafford, 57, of Perry, Florida, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of over 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to...
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

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

Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl Linked to Two Fatal Overdoses

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...
PRESS RELEASE

Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Imprisoned for International Cocaine Distribution Scheme

HOUSTON – A 44-year-old local man has been sentenced for his involvement in an ongoing cocaine distribution scheme that spanned more than nine years, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Francisco Rene Luna pleaded...
PRESS RELEASE

Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle Over 6,000 Kilograms of Cocaine into the United States

TAMPA, F la. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Eliezer De Leon-Lopez (38, Guatemala), a/k/a “Wiro Loco” and “Daniel Martinez,” pleaded guilty today to conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison...
PRESS RELEASE

Money Launderer for Cartel Sent to Prison

HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Mexican citizen has been sentenced for international drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy, operating on behalf of the Gulf Cartel in Mexico, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ezequiel Alanis...
PRESS RELEASE

Three More Sentenced in Laredo Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

LAREDO, Texas – Three Laredo residents have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and launder money, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Cesar Mendiola, 57, Rafael Rodriguez, 63, and...