PRESS RELEASE

Carlsbad man sentenced to 20 years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) … ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jerry Twaddle, 40, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, was sentenced on Sept. 9 in federal court to 20 …
PRESS RELEASE

High Ranking Gulf Cartel Member Convicted In Washington For Drug Trafficking

… Cano Flores was extradited to the United States from Mexico in August 2011 and was ordered detained in federal … in approximately 2001 while serving as a police officer in Mexico.  While serving as a police officer, Cano Flores … Cartel to become a major transporter of narcotics within Mexico to the U.S. border and became the Cartel’s top …
PRESS RELEASE

Arnoldo Rueda-Medina, Aka “La Minsa,” Faces Federal Charges In Dallas For Role In Cocaine And Methamphetamine Distribution And Money Laundering Conspiracies

… “La Minsa,” arrived in the United States today from Mexico to face criminal charges in connection with his top … our law enforcement partners throughout the DFW area and in Mexico, are countless,” added Shelley. “This case and others … together with our law enforcement partners both here and in Mexico, we can bring cartel leadership to justice,” said …
PRESS RELEASE

Meth Distributors Sentenced to Prison and Forfeiture of Earnings

… in a conspiracy to transfer funds from the United States to Mexico to promote the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Roman … conspiracy, then sent several wire transfers to Mexico. Roman, who was on probation at the time of this … marijuana after he smuggled 38 kilograms of marijuana from Mexico into the United States. Roman also has prior felony …
PRESS RELEASE

Forty-One Facing Drug Trafficking Charges As A Result Of Multi-Agency Investigation In Chaves County

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) … Police Department, Chaves County Sheriff’s Office, the New Mexico State Police.  Twenty-one of the defendants charged …
PRESS RELEASE

Mexican National Found Guilty of Importing and Possessing Marijuana

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) … Rio-Molina, 20; and Jose Mirey Trueba-Molina, 19, all from Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with …
PRESS RELEASE

Indictments against 11 high level Mexican drug cartel members unsealed

… The CJNG has emerged as the most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and is considered by the Department of Justice as one … Los Angeles area - as well as for significant violence in Mexico. The CJNG has grown in size and strength rapidly … Salazar is currently a fugitive and is believed to be in Mexico. The following individuals linked to the CJNG have …
PRESS RELEASE

Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Narcotics Trafficking Charges

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) … seeks to reduce the number of opioid-related deaths in New Mexico ALBUQUERQUE - Daniel Jiron, 41, of Albuquerque, N.M., …
PRESS RELEASE

Former Governor Of Mexican State Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To 131 Months In Prison For Money Laundering In Connection With Narcotics Bribes

… payments that he received from the Juarez Cartel - one of Mexico’s most notorious and violent cocaine cartels - … other countries. Villanueva Madrid, 65, was extradited from Mexico in May 2010. He pled guilty on August 2, 2012, before …
PRESS RELEASE

Eighteen Individuals Charged With Participating In Tri-State Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) … are considered fugitives.  The defendants arrested in New Mexico will make their initial appearances in Las Cruces …
PRESS RELEASE

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Extradition Of A Leader Of A Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization And Three Other International Narcotics Traffickers

… cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking extradited from Mexico; two defendants charged with cocaine trafficking … Quintero and Jesus Dominguez Gallardo, extradited from Mexico on charges of conspiring to traffic in … San Diego Field Division, Carlsbad Resident Office, Mexico Country Office, Tijuana Resident Office, Los Angeles …
PRESS RELEASE

High-Ranking Member of Los Zetas Cartel Sentenced in Eastern District of Texas to a Term of Life Imprisonment

… poison into the United States or fuel violence back in Mexico.” “This lengthy sentence is the culmination of years … quantities of cocaine between Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, and Eagle Pass, Texas on behalf of the Los Zetas … was smuggled from the United States back to Chavarria in Mexico by secreting the cash in washers, dryers, …
PRESS RELEASE

Tarrant And Parker County Men Receive Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences For Roles In Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

… May 2013, Favela received cocaine from various Mexico-based cocaine suppliers - usually receiving several … of cocaine. Typically, once Favela received cocaine from Mexico, he personally distributed it, often on consignment, … Villarreal-Flores worked as a money-courier for Favela’s Mexico-based supplier, transporting drug proceeds from …
PRESS RELEASE

Cartel Leader Heads to Prison for Over $2M Drug Seizures

… B. Lowery. Juan Manuel Salazar Alvarez, 29, Michoacan, Mexico, pleaded guilty Nov. 5, 2020. Today, U.S. District … cartel’s large-scale operations functioning in Tamaulipas, Mexico. It comprised of couriers, stash house operators and … Manuel Enrique Ayala Rodriguez, 45, both of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, were each sentenced to 192 months, while Giovani …
PRESS RELEASE

Sinaloa Cartel Member Sentenced To 22 Years In Federal Prison; Plea Agreements Unsealed For Leaders Of Cartel’s Chicago Cell

… CHICAGO - ― A high-level member of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico was sentenced today to 22 years in federal prison … to transport cocaine from Central and South America to Mexico, as well as from Mexico into and throughout the United States. Vasquez …
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Announces Results Of Operation Knight Stalker

… (or Los Caballeros Templarios “LCT”) in California and Mexico.  Arrest warrants have been issued for 30 individuals … into the “La Familia Michoacán” (LFM) members working in Mexico and Southern California involved in the smuggling of … quantities of methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico.  Early in the investigation, intelligence revealed …
PRESS RELEASE

United States Seizes Luxury Condo Allegedly Owned By Former Mexican Governor

… South Padre Island alleged to be owned by former Tamaulipas Mexico Governor Tomas Yarrington has been successfully … of the property. Rodriguez is currently in custody in Mexico. From 1998 to at least 2005, the complaint states … schemes. Yarrington was the former mayor of Matamoros, Mexico, from 1992 to 1995; governor of Tamaulipas from 1999 …
PRESS RELEASE

Former gulf cartel comandante receives significant prison sentence

… K. Patrick. Luis Ivan Nino-Duenez, El Control, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty June 3, 2014.   Today, Senior U.S. … criminal syndicates to maintain control of the plazas in Mexico. He further received enhancements for importation of … of cocaine, marijuana and other illicit narcotics within Mexico and into the United States. They are the lead …
PRESS RELEASE

Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Laundering Drug Trafficking Proceeds

… illegal narcotics proceeds on behalf of drug traffickers in Mexico. In the Summer and Fall of 2017 and the Spring of … schemed with other individuals in the United States and Mexico to facilitate the receipt of approximately $1.5 … the laundered money to be sent back to drug traffickers in Mexico. In November 2017, Han attempted to receive …
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Releases 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment

… Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was brutally murdered in Mexico in 1985. In February 2025, the United States secured …
Leal-Burciaga, Moises Ivan
FUGITIVE

Moises Ivan Leal-Burciaga

Wanted for the following alleged federal violations: Conspiracy & Possession w/ Intent to DistCocaine
Torres-Mota, Eliseo
FUGITIVE

Eliseo Torres-Mota

Wanted for the following alleged federal violations: Mexico
PRESS RELEASE

Federal Prison Sentences Handed Down In Columbus, NM Firearms Trafficking Investigation

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) … by three years of supervised release; 27 year old Palomas, Mexico, resident Manuel Ortega to 70 months incarceration …
PRESS RELEASE

DEA El Paso to Host Family Summit

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) … agencies want to hear from families in West Texas and New Mexico as they share about their loved ones, but also assist …
PRESS RELEASE

Alaska Judge Sentences Texas Man To 84 Months In Prison In Heroin And Methamphetamine Drug Conspiracy

… two pounds of methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico. Alfaro previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with … Alaska themed t-shirt that had been requested by Alfaro’s Mexico-based coconspirator. During the sentencing hearing, … rings with ties to Alaska, California, Texas, Arizona, and Mexico. To date, the following individuals have been …
PRESS RELEASE

Thirty-Four Facing Federal And Tribal Charges Arising Out Of Methamphetamine Trafficking On Mescalero Apache Reservation

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) … filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico in Nov. and Dec. 2015.  Sixteen other members of the …
PRESS RELEASE

Drug Traffickers Sentenced for Distributing 100 Kilograms of Methamphetamine Per Week in Atlanta Area

… per week while hiding on the other end of a cell phone in Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “These … in court: Victor Aguirre-Rodriguez was a member of a Mexico-based drug-trafficking organization (DTO) with a … began negotiating on behalf of the DTO via telephone from Mexico with Colombian cocaine suppliers.  Unbeknownst to …
PRESS RELEASE

Carlsbad Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) … N.M. – Jermaine Ryan Alvarez, 38, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court today to nine years …
PRESS RELEASE

DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Enters 15th Year of Removing Unneeded Medications from Communities

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) …
PRESS RELEASE

Chase Smothermon sentenced to 45 years for abducting, torturing and killing one victim, brutally beating a second

… Social Accounts X Robert “Eric” Castañeda Domestic New Mexico, El Paso, Alpine, and Midland Texas Additional … 915-479-2540 Michelle.Rincon@dea.gov Division Contacts New Mexico Albuquerque - (505) 452-4500 Las Cruces - (575) … judge sentenced Chase Smothermon, 32, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to 45 years in prison for abducting and assaulting …