DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
1874 Results - Showing 1 to 10
PRESS RELEASE

Leaders of Colombian Drug Trafficking Organization Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle over 43,000 Kilos of Cocaine into the United States

TAMPA, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jorge Hernan Gonzalez-Ortiz, 50, of Colombia, and Carlos Andres Aldana-Gil, 43, also of Colombia, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. Each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date...
PRESS RELEASE

Four People Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Fentanyl

MIAMI – Four South Florida residents have been sentenced to federal prison for distributing fentanyl and meth. On Jan. 16, Gito St. Fort, 35, of West Palm Beach, Fla., a career criminal, was sentenced to 320 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of a controlled substance resulting...
PRESS RELEASE

First Fentanyl Distribution Resulting in Death Conviction in Western District of Louisiana

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that three individuals from Shreveport have been sentenced for their involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy which resulted in the death of a Shreveport man. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced the three defendants today. Martin William Thompson...
PRESS RELEASE

Leader of Pharmacy Burglary Ring Across Multiple States Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison

LITTLE ROCK—Keith Brown, a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 209 months, or nearly 17 ½ years, in federal prison for his lead role in a criminal organization that was responsible for dozens of pharmacy burglaries and stolen controlled substances worth millions of dollars. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney...
PRESS RELEASE

Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids

MIAMI– On Dec. 10, Blake Alfonso Kolessa, 27, of Greenacres, Fla., was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks for possessing with intent to distribute metonitazene, N-desethyl isotonitazene, and methamphetamine. Kolessa previously pled guilty...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Fugitive Found Guilty at Trial of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Billy Ruiz (46, California) guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Ruiz faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. His...
PRESS RELEASE

Seven Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 41+ Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms and Narcotics

MONROE, La. – Seven defendants were sentenced this week in the Monroe Division for illegal possession of firearms and narcotics, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the defendants as follows: Adrien Marcel Brown, 44, of St. Joseph, Louisiana was sentenced...
PRESS RELEASE

Georgia Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Armed Fentanyl Trafficking

ALBANY, Ga. –A Southwest Georgia resident with a lengthy criminal history who distributed kilograms of fentanyl and other deadly drugs while in possession of firearms and ammunition was sentenced to serve 40 years in federal prison for his crimes. Larry Roger Sparks, Jr., 46, of Albany, was sentenced to serve...
PRESS RELEASE

SCDC Inmate Among 5 Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Meth, Fentanyl

FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence returned a four-count indictment against Jawan Rayel White, 37; Derrell Sherald, 38; Amon Rasheem Rutledge, 34; Alexis Nicole Loscar, 30; and Christian Vargas, 21, for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The indictment alleges that White, while incarcerated...
PRESS RELEASE

Multi-Kilo Armed Franklin County Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Eight Years

RALEIGH, N.C. – Talvin Lamar Brandon, 29, was sentenced to 96 months in prison for armed drug trafficking after hitting an officer’s patrol car as he was fleeing from a traffic stop. On September 3, 2024, Brandon pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500...