DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
75 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

Defendant Admits Role in Fatal Fentanyl Overdose of Carlsbad Woman

San Diego – Bryan Kim Bullard pleaded guilty in federal court today to distributing the fentanyl that resulted in the death of a 25-year-old Carlsbad woman. According to the plea agreement, on September 9, 2023, Bullard’s co-defendant, Cameron William Fulston, reached out to the victim, identified in court records as...
PRESS RELEASE

Colorado Breaks Record For Fentanyl Pill Seizures

DENVER – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Field Division (RMFD) announces it has seized nearly 2.7 million fentanyl pills – or “fake” pills – in Colorado, with one month remaining in the year. This breaks last year’s record-setting 2.61 million pills seized in the state. “It is an unfortunate...
PRESS RELEASE

Suspicious Travel Leads To DEA Seizure Of 670,000 Fake Pills In Colorado & New Mexico

COLORADO SPRINGS – An incoming tip based on the premise of “see something, say something” leads to the seizure of approximately 670,000 fentanyl pills in Colorado and New Mexico. Earlier this month, a tip out of Albuquerque led to the arrest of a man in Colorado Springs, suspected of transporting...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Recognizes National Fentanyl Prevention & Awareness Day

DENVER – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Field Division (RMFD) recognizes today, August 21, 2024 as National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. “We want to take this time to send our condolences to families across the country who have been impacted by deadly fentanyl – specifically those families within...
PRESS RELEASE

Utah Sets Record For Fentanyl Pill Seizures

SALT LAKE CITY - With less than six months remaining in 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Rocky Mountain Field Division (RMFD) has already seized nearly 800,000 fentanyl pills in Utah - a new record. In operations between January 1 and June 30, 2024, more than 774,000 fentanyl pills were seized...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Seizes One-Quarter Of Utah's 2023 Fentanyl Pill Total… In Less Than Two Weeks

SALT LAKE CITY – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Field Division (RMFD) seized approximately 170,000 fentanyl pills in Utah operations last month. In less than two weeks in June, 170,000 fentanyl pills were seized across the state. This represents 25.6% of the total fentanyl pill seizures in Utah in...
PRESS RELEASE

Two Defendants Charged with Murder in Fatal Pacific Beach Fentanyl Overdose

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that two individuals have been charged with murder in connection with the fentanyl overdose death of 31-year-old Connor Gerhart. Defendants Sheri Cavanaugh, 59, and her co-conspirator, Micah Seau, 31, are both charged with murder and conspiracy to commit a crime. The...
PRESS RELEASE

Heading into Summer, DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division on Record-Setting Fentanyl Pace

DENVER – As most schools are out and Summer 2024 is unofficially underway, DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division is on pace to eclipse fentanyl pill seizure records set just last year. “It is an unfortunate reality that seizures of fake fentanyl pills across our Division – Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and...
PRESS RELEASE

Operation Cash Out Launched Across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana

DENVER – Fentanyl continues to be the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized nationally more than 77 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. Across the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division –...