DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Trafficker Sentenced to 19.5 Years in Prison for Supplying Weapons and Ammunition to Sinaloa Cartel

SAN DIEGO – Keith Octavio Rodriguez Padilla, a prolific firearms trafficker, was sentenced in federal court today to 19.5 years in custody for his role in supplying weapons and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition to the Sinaloa Cartel. This case is part of a long-running investigation targeting the...
PRESS RELEASE

Former U.S. Border Patrol Agent Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Attempting to Distribute Methamphetamine and Receiving Bribes

SAN DIEG O - Former U.S. Border Patrol Agent Hector Hernandez, who admitted that he took bribes to smuggle methamphetamine and people across the U.S.-Mexico border while on duty, was sentenced in federal court today to 87-months in prison. Hernandez pleaded guilty in January, admitting that he agreed to use...
PRESS RELEASE

Former U.S. Border Patrol Agent Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Distribute Meth and Receiving Bribes

SAN DIEG O - Former U.S. Border Patrol Agent Hector Hernandez pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he used his official position to smuggle unauthorized immigrants and illegal drugs across the border in exchange for money. According to his plea agreement, Hernandez admitted to using his official position...
PRESS RELEASE

Members of Mexican Cartel Pipeline Indicted on Charges of Distributing Large Quantities of Fentanyl in Adams County

Brighton, CO — Today, the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division joined Colorado's 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason, the Drug Trafficking Unit of the Adams County DA's Office, and the North Metro Task Force to announce grand jury indictments against nine people accused of funneling fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into...
PRESS RELEASE

Ringleader of Major Drug Trafficking and Money-Laundering Conspiracy in St. George Sentenced to Prison

St. George, Utah – A foreign national was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment after admitting he distributed large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in St. George. According to court documents, the case against Angel Rubio-Quintana, 42, of St. George, Utah, began in March 2020 when federal agents began tracking...
PRESS RELEASE

Great Falls Woman Sentenced to Five Years for Dealing Meth and Heroin

GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A Great Falls woman who admitted to dealing methamphetamine and heroin for a drug trafficking organization based in Mexico was sentenced on Monday to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Katie Marie Marceau, 38, pleaded guilty in March to...
PRESS RELEASE

Greenwood Village Psychiatrist Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Distribution of Controlled Substances and Financial Crimes

DENVER – Howard Weiss of Greenwood Village was sentenced to six months in federal prison for distributing a controlled substance outside the usual course of professional practice, for structuring financial transactions in a way to evade reporting requirements, and for engaging in monetary transactions greater than $10,000 that were derived...
PRESS RELEASE

23-Year-Old Man Arrested in Montezuma County Area Drug Ring

DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Douglas Brummett, age 23, of Montezuma County has been arrested on an indictment alleging multiple instances of trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine. Brummett made his initial appearance in federal court on June 1, 2023, before United States...
PRESS RELEASE

Rocky Mountain Field Division Removes Almost 900,000 Potentially Deadly Doses of Fentanyl from its Communities During Operation Last Mile

DENVER– Last week, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced the results of a year-long national initiative, “Operation Last Mile,” which targeted operatives, associates, and distributors affiliated with the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels. Specifically, the operation targeted those in our communities responsible for the last mile of fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution...
PRESS RELEASE

Coordinated Operation Results in Ten Arrests on Indian Reservations throughout Montana

BILLINGS, Mt. — Ten people were arrested on allegations of trafficking methamphetamine on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations and in Yellowstone, Big Horn and Rosebud counties earlier this month. Seven defendants face charges in a multi-count indictment alleging meth trafficking, firearms and money laundering crimes. Four additional defendants...