DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
9 Results - Showing 1 to 9
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

Fort Myers Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Meth and Fentanyl Through the U.S. Mail

FORT MYERS, Fla. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Durand Dijuon Demetiu Colbert (34, Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Colbert faces a minimum...
PRESS RELEASE

Saint Lucie County Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison

MIAMI - On Sept. 3, Patrick Ward, 39, of Saint Lucie County, Fla., was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl. The sentence comes after Ward previously pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl on three separate occasions. According to...
PRESS RELEASE

South Florida Couple Plead Guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death of Baby and To Being Felons in Possession of Firearms

MIAMI – A couple from Lake Worth, Fla., pled guilty to distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a baby and for being felons in unlawful possession of firearms. Today, Samantha Yi, 32, pled guilty to a superseding indictment charging Yi and her boyfriend Darnell Mendez with conspiracy to...
PRESS RELEASE

Marion County Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Meth and Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute

OCALA, Fla. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Terrance Maurice Washington (41, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to six (6) counts of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and fentanyl) with the intent to distribute. Washington faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in...
PRESS RELEASE

Winter Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing P-Fluorofentanyl and Methamphetamine

TAMPA, Fla . –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Marcus Lutrell Walden (36 , Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine and p-fluorofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue) . Walden faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not...
PRESS RELEASE

Sixteen Individuals Plead Guilty in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy “Operation Titan Fall”

ORLANDO, Fla. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that 16 individuals, charged in three (3) indictments, have all pleaded guilty to their respective roles in conspiring to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and cocaine, in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) “Operation Titan Fall” investigation. This investigation yielded evidence...
PRESS RELEASE

Fentanyl Dealer Pleads Guilty to Distributing Narcotics

TAMPA , Fla . – Marvin “MJ” Mitchell (36, St. Peterburg) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, and fentanyl, and possession with the intent to distribute heroin, crack cocaine, and fentanyl. Mitchell faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison...
PRESS RELEASE

Safety Harbor Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

TAMPA, Fla. – David Burkes (52, Safety Harbor) was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for distributing narcotics, resulting in death to one individual and seriously bodily injury to another. Burkes had pleaded guilty on April 21, 2021. According to the plea agreement, beginning on Aug. 12, 2019, Burkes distributed fentanyl...