DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Four People Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Fentanyl

MIAMI – Four South Florida residents have been sentenced to federal prison for distributing fentanyl and meth. On Jan. 16, Gito St. Fort, 35, of West Palm Beach, Fla., a career criminal, was sentenced to 320 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of a controlled substance resulting...
PRESS RELEASE

Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids

MIAMI– On Dec. 10, Blake Alfonso Kolessa, 27, of Greenacres, Fla., was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks for possessing with intent to distribute metonitazene, N-desethyl isotonitazene, and methamphetamine. Kolessa previously pled guilty...
PRESS RELEASE

Three New Haven County Residents Charged with Trafficking Counterfeit Pills and Firearms

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that on November 25, 2024, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a nine-count indictment...
PRESS RELEASE

Pill Distributor Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Trafficking Tens of Thousands of Pills Containing Fentanyl and Meth

BOSTON – A Haverhill man has been sentenced for distributing tens of thousands of pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Angel Joel Diaz, a/k/a “Guero,” 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to nine years in prison. In April 2024, Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of...
PRESS RELEASE

Orlando Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl

Orlando, Fla. – U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Luis Miguel Plaza, 34 of Orlando, to 10 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Plaza entered a guilty plea on July 24, 2024. According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration...
PRESS RELEASE

Driver in High-Speed Chase Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting Fentanyl Pills and Loaded Firearm

Orlando, Fla. – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Jonathan Nicola (23, Sanford) to 15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute two kilograms of fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Nicola entered a guilty plea on April 30, 2024. According...
PRESS RELEASE

New Haven Resident Sentenced to 42 Months in Federal Prison for Role in Narcotics Distribution Ring

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LISA FAUSEL, 61, of New Haven, formerly of Milford, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release...
PRESS RELEASE

Three Lawrence Men Arrested On Drug Charges

BOSTON – Three Lawrence men have been arrested for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute drugs. Ronald Odelyn Tejeda, 38; Erick Pimentel-Cabrera, 27; and Carlos M. Rodriguez, 36, have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Pimentel-Cabrera and Rodriguez...
PRESS RELEASE

Mother And Son Sentenced For Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

BOSTON – A mother and son were sentenced in federal court in Boston for participating in a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that allegedly distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Javier Bello, a/k/a “Javi,” 29, of Beverly, Mass. was sentenced by U.S. District...
PRESS RELEASE

Seven Charged after Federal Investigation Disrupts Massive Counterfeit Pill Manufacturing Operation

EAST HAVEN - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury...