United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN DIEGO – Former Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza was sentenced in federal court on March 8, 2019 to 36 months in prison for knowingly and intentionally possessing 20 kilograms - about 44 pounds - of cocaine with intent to distribute. “Mr. Loaiza lived every young boy’s dream...

SAN DIEGO – A leader of the Westside Crips was sentenced to 82 months in prison on March 7, 2019 for his aggravating role in a racketeering conspiracy involving sex trafficking, narcotics trafficking and other violent crimes as well as possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute...

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen announced that Alex Taylor, 49, of San Jose, was arrested on Saturday, March 2, 2019, outside his residence in San Jose, Calif., for impersonating a federal agent. The DEA San Jose Resident Office began their investigation in...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment today against Henry Benson, 37, and Roselle Cipriano, 35, of Vallejo, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and manufacture methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen announced that Henry Benson, 37, and Roselle Cipriano, 36, both of Vallejo, were arrested yesterday at their business, the Genesis Care Home for the Elderly in Vallejo, Calif. The DEA Sacramento District Office began this investigation...

SAN DIEGO – Westside Crips gang member William McKinley Bright today became the last of 12 defendants to plead guilty, admitting that he participated in a racketeering conspiracy involving narcotics trafficking, sex trafficking and other violent crimes. Bright, aka “Slim,” admitted to his membership and association with the Westside Crips...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count superseding indictment today against Guillermo Jose Leon Ramirez, 41, of Oroville; Justin James Garcia, 44, of Oroville; and William Lee Vollendroff, 43, of Palermo, charging them with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and two counts of distribution of fentanyl, announced U.S...

FRESNO, Calif. — Darrell Leon Jennings, 51, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to five years in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen announced. His sentence follows his...

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Thursday against Darnell Pearson, 40, of Fresno, charging him with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. “This defendant is alleged to have sold cocaine that was, in fact, fentanyl and caused the deaths...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A nine-count indictment was unsealed today after the arrests of Heidi Phong, 36, of Elk Grove, and Zhen Shang Lin, 37, of Riverside. The indictment, brought by a federal grand jury on Dec. 13, 2018, charged Phong, Lin, Li Juan Wang, 37, of Riverside, and Feng Li...