DEA Archived Press Releases

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

West Haven Woman Who Diverted Narcotics from Dying VA Medical Center Patients is Sentenced

HARTFORD, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TARA SEVERINO, 58, of West Haven, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to two years of probation, the first six months of which Severino must serve...
PRESS RELEASE

Nurse Pleads Guilty to Illegally Obtaining Fentanyl from Hospital

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Osage Beach, Mo., nurse pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally obtaining fentanyl from a hospital for his own use. Charles Welch Jr., 65, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to a federal...
PRESS RELEASE

China-Based Chemical Company, Its Director and Senior Employees Indicted for Alleged Fentanyl Manufacturing and Distribution

LOS ANGELES – A chemical company, its director and three senior employees have been charged in a 13-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they sold deadly fentanyl precursor chemicals and xylazine – known as “tranq” – globally, fueling the fentanyl crisis in the United States, the Justice Department announced today...
PRESS RELEASE

Indictment Charges Stamford Man with Fentanyl Trafficking Offenses

STAMFORD, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Stephen P. Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that DARIUS GAMBLE, also known as “Rell,” 39, of Stamford, has been charged with fentanyl trafficking offenses...
PRESS RELEASE

Bridgeport Drug Trafficker Sentenced

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that FRANK JAMONT BEST, also known as “JB,” and “Cash,” 50, of Bridgeport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to approximately 37 months of imprisonment, time already served, and...
PRESS RELEASE

Dominican National Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Pills and Crystal Meth

HARTFORD, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that AURELIA CAROLINA LARA-DIAZ, 30, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in Boston, Massachusetts, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 50 months of imprisonment for trafficking...
PRESS RELEASE

Dominican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl

HARTFORD, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that PABEL MIGUEL ACOSTA-COLON, 36, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in Jersey City, New Jersey, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 22 months of...
PRESS RELEASE

11 Charged with Trafficking Drugs in Southwestern Connecticut, Firearm Offenses

STAMFORD, Conn. - Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that the following 11 individuals have been charged with federal offenses stemming from...
PRESS RELEASE

Operation Cash Out Launched Across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana

DENVER – Fentanyl continues to be the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized nationally more than 77 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. Across the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division –...
PRESS RELEASE

Indictment Charges Brothers with Trafficking Narcotic Pills

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging KYLE PETERSEN, 38, of Newington, and ERIK PETERSEN...