United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BEAUMONT, Texas – On Jan. 27, 2020, Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Director Mike McDaniel and DEA Houston Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple are pleased to announce the establishment of a new HIDTA initiative in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. The mission of the DEA-led...

WACO, Texas – On Jan. 24, 2020, a federal jury convicted 27–year-old Francisco Resendez Martinez of Gonzales, California, for attempting to deliver approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine from California to Waco, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and DEA Houston Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple. Jurors...

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Drug Enforcement Administration yesterday announced that a member of a large drug trafficking organization was sentenced. Byron A. Lawson, age 40, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced as part of Operation Hidden Fee, an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized...

LAREDO, Texas – Jesus Homero Ortiz, a 27-year-old resident of Laredo has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute nearly eight kilograms of fentanyl, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K...

BATON ROUGE, La. – The leader of a large drug trafficking organization, James C. Hull, 41, of Baton Rouge, was sentenced as part of Operation Hidden Fee, an extensive federal, state and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force aimed at a drug trafficking...

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, Cyrus Phyfier, 51, of Montgomery, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for multiple drug and firearm related charges, announced DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Clay Morris, United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson...

HOUSTON – Three Colombian citizens are set to appear in federal court for their alleged roles in a drug smuggling attempt involving more than 1,300 kilograms of cocaine, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jesus Alfredo De La Cruz Orobio...

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Mexican foreign national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to prison for conspiracy and meth smuggling, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The jury deliberated for less than three hours following a three-day trial...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 39-year-old Florida man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a Rio Grande Valley-based drug conspiracy, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Roberto Santos-Gonzalez pleaded guilty on June 4 to conspiracy with intent...

HOUSTON – An alleged ranking member of the Clan Del Golfo has been extradited to the United States to face numerous drug trafficking and money laundering charges, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, along with U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and FBI Special Agent in Charge...