United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK CITY – In 2023, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration marked its 50th anniversary as the only federal agency dedicated to fighting deadly drugs and drug-related violence. This milestone celebrated a half century of dedication to fighting drug trafficking in the United States and around the world, which threatens...

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bronx, New York, man today admitted distributing heroin and fentanyl into New Jersey from two drug mills in the Bronx, which resulted in the death of a 15-month-old child, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Jhan Carlos Capellan Maldonado, 35, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge...

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Roderick Arrington, a/k/a Ra-Ra, 42, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 216 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the...

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a five-count indictment was unsealed charging Ariana Charles with conspiring to illegally traffic 18 firearms to Brooklyn. The defendant is charged under the gun trafficking provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress and the President enacted in June 2022. The...

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that Francisco Javier Mecina Barrera, a/k/a “Angel,” was sentenced to 21 years in prison for MECINA’s leadership of a large-scale firearms trafficking and methamphetamine distribution and importation operation he called the “ Cartel de Houston”...

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that a federal jury has convicted Lavon Parks, a/k/a Dutch, 32, and his father, James C. Parks, 58, both of Niagara Falls, NY, of narcotics conspiracy, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and discharge of firearm...

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Steven Gonzalez a/k/a Steven Hernandez, a/k/a Steve, a/k/a Stevie, a/k/a Unc, 47, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 188 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Gonzalez was also...

(NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.) – Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman, Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division, Niagara Falls Police Department (NFPD) Chief of Police John Faso, and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Dominick Chiumento announced the...

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge Drug Enforcement Administration New York Division, and Erin Keegan, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the...

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Justin Whitfield, 24, of Cincinnati, OH, was charged by criminal complaint with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case...