United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SPOKANE, Wash. – Dr. James Stein-Sheridan Shelby, 50, of Spokane, Wash., and Timothy James Felch, 36, also of Spokane, Wash., were sentenced on July 22, 2019, after having pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute opioid pain medications, hydrocodone and tramadol, without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course...

SPOKANE, Wash. – Early this morning, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Border Patrol led a large-scale enforcement action targeting a methamphetamine and heroin drug trafficking organization with ties to a Washington State-based street gang identified as the Eastside...

SAN FRANCISCO – Kia Zolfaghari pleaded guilty today to charges regarding his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, as well as to related weapons and money laundering charges, announced U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson and DEA Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen. The plea was accepted by Senior United...

SAN JOSE, Calif. – A federal grand jury indicted Alexander Taylor on charges of impersonating a federal officer and possession of a counterfeit seal of an agency of the United States, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and DEA Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen. The indictment, filed earlier...

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – Christine Ruth Turner, 43, and her husband, Joshua A. Turner, 40, both of Coeur d’Alene, were sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on June 26, 2019. Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge sentenced Christine Turner to 71 months in prison and Joshua...

PORTLAND, Ore.—Eric L. Scully, of Cottage Grove, Oregon, was sentenced on June 20th, 2019, to 78 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release for endangering human life and illegally possessing and manufacturing marijuana during a November 2017 butane honey oil (BHO) explosion in Cottage Grove. Scully was also...

SPOKANE, Wash. – Taylor Fertig, 24, of Kennewick, Wash., was sentenced on June 26, 2019, after having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Senior United States District Judge Edward Shea imposed a 10-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of...

BAKERSFIELD, Calif . – Leonard Velazquez-Martinez, 50, of Minnesota, and Joseph Andrade, 38, of Bakersfield, were arrested Monday for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. At the time of his arrest, Andrade was employed as a correctional officer at Wasco...

FRESNO, Calif . – On June 17, 2019, Carlos Montano, aka “Loco,” 29, of Fresno, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill to 21 years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm and interstate transportation for prostitution...

SACRAMENTO, Calif . – A grand jury returned a superseding indictment on Thursday that added money laundering charges to six defendants first charged in 2017 in a scheme to use money from China to buy houses to grow marijuana, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Charged with money laundering are...