DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Chico Couple Indicted For Trafficking Methamphetamine In Butte And Shasta Counties

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment today against Curtis Dale Sawyer, 52, and Ann Marie Vance, 49, both of Chico, charging them with conspiring to possess and possessing methamphetamine for distribution, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John...
PRESS RELEASE

Spokane DEA & ATF Lead Large Scale Enforcement Action 20 Arrested & 75 Firearms & Methamphetamine Seized

SPOKANE, Wash. - On December 13, 2017, the Drug Enforcement (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and (ATF) led a large scale enforcement action targeting a criminal organization distributing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Hundreds of law enforcement officials, including federal agents and state...
PRESS RELEASE

Doctor Sentenced To 16 Years For Distributing Drugs

BOISE, Idaho - Dr. Rafael Beier, 63, of Kingston, Idaho, was sentenced on November 30, 2017, to 192 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for unlawfully distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone. Senior U.S.District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Beier to pay a $63,000 fine and...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Seattle Police Officer Pleads Guilty For Role In Drug Conspiracy Transporting Large Amounts Of Marijuana To The East Coast

SEATTLE - Former Seattle police officer pleaded guilty today for his role in the smuggling of hundreds of pounds of marijuana from the Seattle area to Baltimore, Maryland. Alex Chapackdee, 44, of Seattle, was a 16-year veteran of the Seattle Police (SPD), who resigned shortly after his arrest in May...
PRESS RELEASE

Medford Man Sentenced To Prison For Manufacturing Hash Oil That Resulted In Butane Explosion Causing Serious Injuries To Children

MEDFORD, Ore. - On Thursday, November 16, 2017, United States District Judge Michael J. McShane sentenced Brian Keith Sunkenberg, 53, to 45 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to endangering human life by manufacturing marijuana in the form of hash oil. Judge McShane ordered Sunkenberg to pay $27,671 in...
PRESS RELEASE

Drug Enforcement Administration Collects Record Number Of Unused Pills As Part Of Its 14th Prescription Drug Take Back Day

WASHINGTON - Americans nationwide did their part to reduce the opioid crisis by bringing the DEA and its more than 4,200 local and tribal law enforcement partners a record-setting 912,305 pounds-456 tons-of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for disposal at more than 5,300 collection sites. That is...
PRESS RELEASE

Last Of Five Bakersfield Men Sentenced In Conspiracy To Distribute Methamphetamine

FRESNO, Calif. - Carlos Gerrardo Blanco, 27, of Bakersfield, was sentenced yesterday by United States Chief District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill to 10 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, between November 2014 and December 2015 Blanco distributed and conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine...
PRESS RELEASE

Oakland Man Sentenced To Almost 20 Years In Prison For Role In Conspiracy To Smuggle Drugs Around Airport Security

OAKLAND, Calif. - Jeremy Luckett was sentenced today to 235 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., U.S. District Judge, following a guilty plea in...
PRESS RELEASE

Heroin Trafficker Sentenced To Three Years In Prison

SAN FRANCISCO - Mariano Ramos-Lopez was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute nearly a kilogram of heroin, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin. The sentence was handed down by the...
PRESS RELEASE

Taft Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty To Drug Conspiracy

FRESNO, Calif. - Mario Alvarez-Muniz, 49, a citizen of Mexico and former resident of Taft, entered a guilty plea today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in December 2016, Alvarez-Muniz delivered...