United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN FRANCISCO – United States Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen and United States Attorney David L. Anderson announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged nine defendants, many members of the same family, with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The charges were made...

SAN FRANCISCO – United States Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen and the U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson announce that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged 13 defendants with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The charges were made in a complaint filed July 31...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Salvador Padilla III, 39, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley, to 10 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen announced. On May 23, 2019, Padilla pleaded guilty...

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...

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...

SACRAMENTO, Calif . – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Arturo Zavaleta, 39, of Mexico, charging him with trafficking in heroin, methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, United States Attorney McGregor Scott announced. According to court documents, on June 3, 2019...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sixteen members and associates of a prison-based gang have been charged after a long-running investigation into drug trafficking and murders inside and outside of California’s prisons. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott, and Special Agent in...