DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
8 Results - Showing 1 to 8
PRESS RELEASE

Winchester Man Sentenced to Prison Time for Eutylone & "Ecstasy" Distribution

HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Winchester, Virginia man, who distributed Eutylone, commonly marketed by drug dealers as “Molly” or “Ecstasy” was sentenced last week to 72 months in federal prison. Lamont Antoine Parson, 40, pled guilty in November 2021 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent...
PRESS RELEASE

South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Illegal Steroids

ABINGDON, Va. – The owner of a supplement company, that manufactured and shipped unapproved drugs and illegal steroids for use by members of the bodybuilding community, pled guilty this week to a pair of federal drug charges. John Franklin Cochcroft, 37, of Lexington, South Carolina, waived his right to be...
PRESS RELEASE

Ringleader and Members of Multi-State Anabolic Steroid Trafficking Network Sentenced

NORFOLK, Va. – Today, a Richmond man was the sixth and final defendant to be sentenced for his role in a multi-state anabolic steroid conspiracy that operated across the country. According to court documents, Clyde Edward Peele, 46, is one of six members of a trafficking network, led by Michael...
PRESS RELEASE

25th Operation High Tide Defendant Sentenced for Drug and Gun Crimes

NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man, who was the 25th defendant associated with Operation High Tide, was sentenced today for his role in trafficking firearms and selling heroin. According to court documents, in 2017, Shon E. Melton, 32, of Portsmouth, was attributed with trafficking 19 firearms, including a concealable short...
PRESS RELEASE

U.S. Navy Petty Officer Pleads Guilty to Role in Multi-State Anabolic Steroid Trafficking Network

NORFOLK, Va. – Today, a Jacksonville, Florida man was the sixth and final defendant to enter a guilty plea for his role in a multi-state anabolic steroid conspiracy that operated in multiple states across the country. According to court documents, law enforcement received information in February 2020 that Erik Eckert...
PRESS RELEASE

Couple sentenced to nearly 20 years for manufacturing and distributing crack across Hampton Roads area

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News couple has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for their respective roles in manufacturing and trafficking narcotics in Hampton Roads. According to court documents, Dynetta R. Littlejohn, 30, pleaded guilty earlier this year to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base...
PRESS RELEASE

Virginia man producing dangerous anabolic steroids and masking agents in his basement, selling them on social media, sentenced to prison

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced to five years in prison for manufacturing and distributing anabolic steroids and money laundering. According to court documents, John Russell Kestel, 38, ran an anabolic steroid manufacturing and distribution conspiracy for at least three years. Kestel imported raw steroid powders from China...
PRESS RELEASE

Fourteen people indicted, $1 million worth of drugs and 65 firearms seized in massive takedown

NORFOLK, Va. – Over 100 law enforcement agents, officers and other personnel executed Operation High Tide this week, resulting in a series of arrests of individuals allegedly involved in selling drugs and guns in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth. Operation High Tide is a large-scale narcotics trafficking and firearms investigation that...