DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
914 Results - Showing 391 to 400
PRESS RELEASE

St. Cloud Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

ORLANDO, Fla. - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Robert J. Potocnack (42, St. Cloud) has pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking...
PRESS RELEASE

Nurse Who Stole Painkillers, Replacing Them with Saline and Putting Surgical Patients at Risk, Sentenced to Four Years

RALEIGH, N.C. – A former Fuquay-Varina nurse was sentenced today to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release for tampering with painkillers intended for surgery patients. On March 9, 2022, Melissa Elizabeth Chacona pled guilty to the charges. “Surgical patients trust healthcare providers to give them the...
PRESS RELEASE

Fentanyl Trafficker Tied to Juvenile Overdoses Pleads Guilty

DALLAS, TX - A fentanyl trafficker tied to the rash of juvenile overdoses in Carrollton and Flower Mound pleaded guilty today to a drug crime, announced DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez Magaly Mejia Cano, 29, was charged via criminal complaint in February. On Tuesday she pleaded...
PRESS RELEASE

Chicago Man Arrested, Charged for Manufacturing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

CHICAGO – Sheila Lyons, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Field Division, announced that Allen Dean, 30, Chicago, has been charged with one felony count of manufacture of controlled substances, 900 or more grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The charges were approved by the Cook...
PRESS RELEASE

Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Conspiracy

FRESNO, Calif. — Juan Medina, 29, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark announced. According to court documents, in July 2015, Medina, a truck driver acting at the direction of a...
PRESS RELEASE

Dallas Woman Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Non-U.S. Citizens Resulting in Migrant’s Death

EL PASO, Texas – A Dallas woman pleaded guilty in a federal court in El Paso Wednesday to charges in connection to her role as a stash house operator and coordinator of a human smuggling organization operating in far west Texas. According to court documents, Elizabeth Miranda Lozano, 39, joined...
PRESS RELEASE

Leominster Man and Woman Charged with Drug Offenses

BOSTON – A Leominster man and woman have been arrested and charged for allegedly conspiring to distribute large quantities of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine. Chanhda Onesyvieng, 48, and Bonnie Bounkong Namsaly, 45, were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances. Following initial...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Modesto Doctor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Prescribing Opioids

FRESNO, Calif. — Sawtantra Chopra, 76, of Modesto, pleaded guilty Wednesday to three counts of illegally prescribing opioids and other medication, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark announced. According to court documents, Chopra admitted prescribing drugs — including hydrocodone, alprazolam...
PRESS RELEASE

Seattle Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Dealing Fentanyl in Downtown Seattle While Armed with a Handgun

SEATTLE, Wash. – A 37-year-old Seattle man was sentenced this week to four years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Possession of Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joseph Johnson was prosecuted federally as part of Seattle’s Operation New Day –...
PRESS RELEASE

Rocky Mountain Field Division Removes Almost 900,000 Potentially Deadly Doses of Fentanyl from its Communities During Operation Last Mile

DENVER– Last week, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced the results of a year-long national initiative, “Operation Last Mile,” which targeted operatives, associates, and distributors affiliated with the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels. Specifically, the operation targeted those in our communities responsible for the last mile of fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution...