United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN DIEGO – Egisto Salerno, a medical doctor practicing in San Diego, pleaded guilty to opioid distribution in federal court today, admitting that he signed bogus prescriptions for multiple deceased or incarcerated patients. According to his plea agreement, Salerno, 75, illegally distributed 78,544 hydrocodone pills. Hydrocodone is an opioid pain...

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...

SAN DIEGO – Orlando Balderas Guerrero, of Menifee, Calif., was sentenced in federal court today to 10 years in custody for participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, Guerrero admitted that for a one-year period, he obtained bulk methamphetamine from a broker in Mexico and...

SAN DIEGO – April Spring Kelly, of San Diego, was sentenced in federal court on Friday to 14 years in prison for conspiring to smuggle more than 450,000 fentanyl pills from Mexico into the United States during a nine-month period ending in October 2018. According to admissions in her plea...

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...

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 – 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...

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...

LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Laredo native has admitted to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than 135 kilograms of marijuana, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. On Sept. 13, authorities observed a man – later identified...

LAREDO, Texas – A 24-year-old Laredo resident has admitted he conspired to possess with intent to distribute a large quantity of marijuana, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. On July 18, authorities observed six individuals carrying bundles near...