Press Releases - all

WASHINGTON – Kassim Tajideen, the operator of a network of businesses in Lebanon and Africa whom the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated as an important financial supporter to the Hezbollah terror organization, pleaded guilty today to charges associated with evading U.S. sanctions imposed on him.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Diblaim Alan Valdez-Araux, 31, of Madera, and Fresno residents Erick Lizarraga, 28; Perla Ramos, 29; Brittany Martinez, 26; David Martinez, 66; Rosemarie Martinez, 64; Jesus Bueno, 27; Noyra Gonzalez, 41; and Maricela Castellanos, 54, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen announced.

CONCORD, N.H. – Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Division Brian D. Boyle and United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Migdalia Cintron-Morales, 38, of Lawrence, Massachusetts was sentenced on Thursday to serve 30 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.  

CONCORD, N.H. – Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Division Brian D. Boyle and United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Joseph C. Callahan, 36, of Belmont, New Hampshire, was sentenced in federal court to nine years in federal prison for possessing over five grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  

ALBANY, NY – Latam Games, LLC of Miami, Florida, pled guilty today to structuring financial transactions to evade currency reporting requirements. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration Keith Kruskall; and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation James D. Robnett.

BOSTON – The leader of a Boston-based heroin and fentanyl trafficking organization was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston. Jose Antonio Lugo-Guerrero, aka Fernando Rivera-Rodriguez, 40, a Dominican national formerly residing in Mattapan, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 16 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Lugo-Guerrero will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence.

PORTLAND, Ore. – On Nov. 29, 2018, Rene Elene Griffin Nunn, 59, of Vancouver, Washington, made an initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo.

PHOENIX – The DEA today announced the sentencing of former pharmacist, Vilawoe Aku Boadu, to ten years in prison and pharmacy technician, Zinka Sisic, to four years in prison, after DEA agents arrested both individuals and closed two Phoenix area pharmacies last year. Both women were convicted on federal drug and money laundering charges. 

OMAHA, Neb., – As the nation recognizes National Methamphetamine Awareness Day today, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Omaha Division announces that it has seen a three percent increase in methamphetamine seizures in one year. The division, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, registered 817 pounds of seized methamphetamine in 2017 and collected 842.6 pounds in conjunction with state and local law enforcement investigations in 2018.