DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Jury Convicts Missouri Man of Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Portageville, Mo., man has been convicted in a jury trial of trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms. Michael C. Patton, 36, was found guilty on Tuesday, Jan. 14, of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and being...
PRESS RELEASE

Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Selling Fentanyl That Killed One Woman, Hospitalized Another

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Thursday sentenced a man who sold the fentanyl that killed one woman and sent another to the hospital in one day in 2019 to 14 years in prison. Zachary Hovis, 24, provided fentanyl to an 18-year-old woman in the parking...
PRESS RELEASE

Warren County doctor sentenced for illegally distributing opioids and Medicare fraud

ST. LOUIS – Dr. Philip Dean, 62, a resident of Warren County, Missouri, was sentenced today to 40 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution to the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the amount of $312,377. Dr. Dean previously pled guilty today to two felony charges, illegally distributing opiate...
PRESS RELEASE

Alleged Mexican drug dealer extradited to Southern District of Illinois

ST. LOUIS –The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service extradited Armando Medina-Hernandez from Mexico on Nov. 7, 2018, to face federal drug trafficking charges in the Southern District of Illinois. According to the superseding indictment unsealed on Nov. 16, 2018, Medina has been charged by a federal...
PRESS RELEASE

Halloween Drug Laced Candy Alert

The Drug Enforcement Administration, St. Louis Division advises law enforcement, first responders and parents to be aware of Marijuana-laced and Methamphetamine-laced candy this Halloween. These treats can look like traditional candies, but can have harmful effects if consumed by a child. The DEA and law enforcement agencies throughout the country...
PRESS RELEASE

New boss for DEA’s St. Louis Division says astronomical increases in seizures of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine a top priority

ST. LOUIS - William J. Callahan, III was appointed Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC) of the DEA St. Louis Division and reported for duty on July 10, 2018. SAC Callahan is already hard at work finding innovative ways to tackle the drug and gang related violence that has been plaguing Missouri, Kansas...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA In Springfield, Missouri Achieve Significant Prison Sentences For Two Recent Investigations

ST. LOUIS - Matthew R. Barden, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA St. Louis Division, today announced two significant prison sentences handed down by the U.S. Courts as the result of great investigative work by the DEA Springfield, Missouri office. Santiago Soto-Garcia, 25, of Joplin, received a 25-year...
PRESS RELEASE

Two Separate Investigations Result In Significant Sentences For Drug Dealers In Cedar Rapids

ST. LOUIS - Matthew Barden, Associate Special Agent in Charge of the DEA St. Louis Division, announces substantial prison sentences as the result of two large-scale drug investigations, led by the DEA office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In one case, Ryan Buchheim, 48, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received a 20-year...
PRESS RELEASE

Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty In 100 Pound Meth Conspiracy

ST. LOUIS - Matt Barden, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the St. Louis Division Office, today announced that Robert “Bobby” Whitenack, 37, a convicted felon from Westside, Iowa, was convicted on the charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking...
PRESS RELEASE

OCDETF Operation Nets Over A 12 Year Prison Sentence For Iowa Meth Dealer

OMAHA - Matt Barden, Associate Special Agent in Charge of the DEA St. Louis Division, today announced that Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) operation “Mala Rubia” resulted in a 12 and ½ year prison sentence for the leader of this drug trafficking (DTO). Jason Nauman, 36, of Marshalltown, Iowa...