DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Five Indicted for Drug Trafficking in “The Jungle” and Seattle’s International District

SEATTLE – Five Seattle-area men are in custody following a grand jury indictment for their drug trafficking activity in Seattle’s homeless encampments and International District, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The men are charged federally and have made their initial appearances over the last few days. “We are all...
PRESS RELEASE

Idaho Woman Pleads Guilty to Selling a Man Fentanyl Pills That Caused His Death

BOISE, Idaho – Jerilyn Martel Hupp, 33, of Boise, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl in a case involving a fatality, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. Hupp sold ten fentanyl pills to a man she met online, who subsequently died after ingesting half of a pill containing illicit fentanyl...
PRESS RELEASE

Spokane DEA & ATF Lead Large Scale Enforcement Action 20 Arrested & 75 Firearms & Methamphetamine Seized

SPOKANE, Wash. - On December 13, 2017, the Drug Enforcement (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and (ATF) led a large scale enforcement action targeting a criminal organization distributing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Hundreds of law enforcement officials, including federal agents and state...
PRESS RELEASE

Doctor Sentenced To 16 Years For Distributing Drugs

BOISE, Idaho - Dr. Rafael Beier, 63, of Kingston, Idaho, was sentenced on November 30, 2017, to 192 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for unlawfully distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone. Senior U.S.District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Beier to pay a $63,000 fine and...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Seattle Police Officer Pleads Guilty For Role In Drug Conspiracy Transporting Large Amounts Of Marijuana To The East Coast

SEATTLE - Former Seattle police officer pleaded guilty today for his role in the smuggling of hundreds of pounds of marijuana from the Seattle area to Baltimore, Maryland. Alex Chapackdee, 44, of Seattle, was a 16-year veteran of the Seattle Police (SPD), who resigned shortly after his arrest in May...
PRESS RELEASE

Medford Man Sentenced To Prison For Manufacturing Hash Oil That Resulted In Butane Explosion Causing Serious Injuries To Children

MEDFORD, Ore. - On Thursday, November 16, 2017, United States District Judge Michael J. McShane sentenced Brian Keith Sunkenberg, 53, to 45 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to endangering human life by manufacturing marijuana in the form of hash oil. Judge McShane ordered Sunkenberg to pay $27,671 in...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA, FBI And CODE Join Forces To Take Down Major Drug Trafficking Network In Central Oregon

September 29 , 2017 Contact: Public Information Officer Number: 206-553-1162 @DEASeattleDiv BEND, Ore) - On Wednesday, September 27, 2017, a joint operation involving the DEA, FBI, and Central Oregon Drug (CODE) Team resulted in the federal arrest of nine people charged with participation in a drug distribution network operating in...
PRESS RELEASE

Federal, State And Municipal Partnership Targets Fentanyl Traffickers

September 13 , 2017 Contact: Public Information Officer Number: 206-553-1162 @DEASeattleDiv ANCHORAGE - On September 12, 2017, a federal grand jury in Anchorage returned a series of indictments charging individuals with fentanyl trafficking and other criminal offenses. Fentanyl, sometimes known on the street as “Grey Death,” is a powerful opioid...
PRESS RELEASE

Safeway Pharmacies Pay $3 Million To Resolve Allegations Chain Failed To Timely Report Drug Diversion

SEATTLE, Wash. - The Department of Justice and (a division of Albertson’s Companies, Inc.) have reached a civil settlement of allegations the company failed to timely report controlled substances that were missing from pharmacies. Safeway will pay the United States $3 million and implement a compliance agreement reached with the...
PRESS RELEASE

Ecuadoran Brothers Indicted For Heroin Distribution And Money Laundering Conspiracy

SEATTLE, Wash. - Two Ecuadoran brothers were indicted in the Western District of Washington for ten felony counts related to distribution of heroin and laundering the proceeds of their drug sales. Fredy Ramon Gutama-Gutama, 25, and Fabian Martin Gutama-Gutama, 20, both of Lynnwood, Washington, were observed by law enforcement between...