United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BOSTON – A Fall River man was sentenced today for his role in a drug distribution conspiracy involving thousands of oxycodone pills. Austin Gonsalves, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 41 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gonsalves...

RUTLAND, Vt. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 29, 2024, Michael Burton, 48, of Shelburne, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term...

BOSTON – A Lawrence man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Victor Berroa Mercedes, 31, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession...

El Paso, Texas – DEA and its local law enforcement partners collected 670,136 pounds of unused medications during the 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27, 2024. The El Paso Division collected 2,086 pounds in West Texas and 4,622 pounds in New Mexico. “Once again, the communities...

PHOENIX, Ariz. - DEA and its local law enforcement partners collected 5,702 pounds of unused medications in Arizona during the 26th National Drug Take Back Day on April 27, 2024. This is an increase from last October of 5,414 pounds collected. Nationwide, 670,136 pounds of unused medications were turned in...

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Angel Valencia-Avendano, 20, of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, was sentenced last week by United States Chief District Judge G. Murray Snow to 84 months in prison. Valencia-Avendano pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. On March 6, 2023, Valencia-Avendano was arrested and charged with fentanyl trafficking...

SAN DIEG O - Former U.S. Border Patrol Agent Hector Hernandez, who admitted that he took bribes to smuggle methamphetamine and people across the U.S.-Mexico border while on duty, was sentenced in federal court today to 87-months in prison. Hernandez pleaded guilty in January, admitting that he agreed to use...

BOSTON – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division will team up with college esports teams from across New England to host the first of its kind, hybrid One Pill Can Kill Game Over Tournament. This event aims to meet a critical moment in time by using the...

SEATTLE – DEA and its local law enforcement partners collected 670,136 pounds of unused medications during the 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27, 2024. The DEA Seattle Field Division, which includes Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho, collected 18,214 pounds of unneeded prescription medication with the help...

ST. LOUIS – DEA and its local law enforcement partners collected 670,136 pounds of unused medications during the 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27, 2024. DEA St. Louis Division collected a total of 26,000 pounds from its region, including the states of Missouri and Kansas, as...