Press Releases - all

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two defendants who were arrested after their meth lab caught fire were sentenced today to federal prison.

Orlando Cortez-Nieto, 43, and Jesus Cervantes-Aguiler, 23, both of Kansas City, Kan., were sentenced to 20 years each.

During a jury trial in July 2019, the defendants were convicted on charges including conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Texas man who oversaw a drug ring in the Kansas City metro area was sentenced Wednesday to 262 months in federal prison in a case investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division, Kansas City District Office.

Jorge Portillo-Uranga, 36, Teague, Texas, pleaded guilty to seven felony counts, including conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking.

NEWARK, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, Susan A. Gibson, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Craig Carpenito, announced a Union County, New Jersey, woman was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute over 900 grams of methamphetamine.

New York, NY – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, Susan A. Gibson, Acting U. S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, and the Inspector in Charge of the New Jersey Office of the Unites States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), James Buthorn, announced today that Jose Francisco Guzman-Cabrera, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was extradited yesterday from the Dominican Republic.

,strong>BUFFALO, N.Y. U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, New York Division announced today that following a two week trial, a federal jury has convicted Henry Lloyd, 34, and Roman Dunnigan, 41, both of Buffalo, NY, of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Lloyd faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum of 40 years, while Dunnigan faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal judge sentenced Chase Smothermon, 32, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to 45 years in prison for abducting and assaulting two men, one of whom was tortured, killed, and mutilated. Smothermon suspected the victims of stealing drugs and money from his home.

On Jan. 24, Smothermon pleaded guilty in federal court in Santa Fe, New Mexico. An indictment charged Smothermon, and two other residents of Albuquerque, Mariah Ferry, 22, and Jose Torrez, 48, with kidnapping, kidnapping resulting in death, and conspiracy to kidnap.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announced today that 355 arrests have been made by local and federal law enforcement officers in Operation LeGend.

ST. LOUIS – Joshua Matthew Spencer, 30, of Franklin County, Misssouri, was sentenced today to 10 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to his involvement in conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

AUSTIN, TX - Over the past two weeks, federal, state and local authorities have arrested 21 individuals in connection with a cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking operations based in the Austin area, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney John F. Bash.