DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
21 Results - Showing 11 to 20
PRESS RELEASE

Seven People Charged in Augusta-Area Drug Trafficking Operation

AUGUSTA, GA – Seven people have been indicted on charges related to a major methamphetamine-trafficking organization blamed for at least one overdose death. As described in the newly unsealed indictment in USA v. Wheatley et. al, the investigation in Operation Wheat Fields dates back to early 2018 and includes allegations...
PRESS RELEASE

Ed Buck Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison

LOS ANGELES – Edward Buck, a businessman and long-time figure of West Hollywood politics, was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for providing fatal doses of methamphetamine to two men who died at his apartment after he injected them with the drug. Buck, 67, was sentenced by United...
PRESS RELEASE

Convicted Felon Going to Prison on Methamphetamine Charge Involving a Death

BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jason Yelder, 39, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 135 months in prison and eight years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J...
PRESS RELEASE

St. Louis and Kansas City Part of DEA Initiative to Combat Drug-Related Violence and Overdo

ST. LOUIS – The Drug Enforcement Administration announced Operation Overdrive, a new initiative aimed at combatting the rising rates of drug-related violent crime and overdose deaths plaguing American communities. Both St. Louis and Kansas City are among the 34 locations across 23 states where DEA efforts will be focused. Operation...
PRESS RELEASE

Ten-Time Convicted Felon Who Trafficked Fentanyl Causing Deaths Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison

TAMPA , Fla . – On January 11, 2022, U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew sentenced Derrick Hutchins (36, Tampa) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Hutchins had pleaded guilty on October 13, 2021. According to court documents, on April 26...
PRESS RELEASE

Juries Return Guilty Verdicts Against Couple for Murdering Government Witness

OCALA, Fla. – Following eight days of trial in federal court, David Chappell Fey (57, Belleview) and Shari Lynn Gunter (58, Ocklawaha) have each been found guilty as charged for the murder of a government witness. The trial required special accommodations: a separate jury heard evidence for each defendant. In...
PRESS RELEASE

South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine, International Money Laundering, Gun Charges

ABINGDON, Va. – A Greenville, South Carolina man, who formerly resided in Bristol, Virginia, pleaded guilty last week to distributing methamphetamine, international money laundering, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiring to obstruct justice. According to court documents, Joshua Desorcy, 36, was directly responsible for...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Issues Public Safety Alert on Sharp Increase in Fake Prescription Pills Containing Fentanyl and Meth

ATLANTA, GA – Today, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a Public Safety Alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. DEA’s Public Safety Alert, the first in six years, seeks to raise public awareness of a significant...
PRESS RELEASE

Four Men Charged for Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy, Bribing U.S. Mail Carrier

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging four men with federal charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine sent through the U.S. mail to a mail carrier who allegedly accepted bribes to re-route the packages to drug conspirators. Charged in the indictment are: Robert DuBois...
PRESS RELEASE

California Narcotics Trafficker Sentenced

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Ana Christina Avalos a/k/a “Christina Cazares-Quintero”, age 35, of Phelan, California, to 57 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The sentence was announced by...