United States Drug Enforcement Administration

RICHLAND, Wash. - Sami Anwar, age 41, of Richland, Washington, was sentenced today by Senior District Judge Edward F. Shea to a 340-month term of imprisonment for falsifying human clinical research trials in connection with a fraud scheme directed by Mr. Anwar. After a three-week jury trial in Richland in...

EUGENE, Ore. - A Eugene Springfield Fire Department paramedic has been charged with illegally obtaining controlled substances from a local pharmacy and using them to drug and rape multiple female victims. Edward Augustus Blake, 44, a resident of Cheshire, Oregon, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with conspiring to...

PORTLAND, Ore. - A Medford Podiatrist pleaded guilty today for using fraud and deception to obtain controlled substances which he used to feed his personal addiction. Patrick T. Code, 60, pleaded guilty today to a one count information charging obtaining possession of a controlled substance through misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Several individuals have been arrested and charged in Anchorage, Alaska, for their alleged roles in a criminal enterprise involving narcotics distribution, money laundering, and gun violence in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. In a recently unsealed indictment, Jordan J. Shanholtzer, aka "Two-3," 33, formerly of Anchorage,; Matthew...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jerry Twaddle, 40, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, was sentenced on Sept. 9 in federal court to 20 years in prison on drug trafficking charges. On Feb. 6, 2019, a jury found Twaddle guilty on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, using a communication facility (telephone)...

WASHINGTON – Today, Attorney General William P. Barr and Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea announced the results of Operation Crystal Shield, DEA’s six-month-long effort targeting the command and control elements of Mexican cartels that operate major methamphetamine “transportation hubs” in the United States. At a press conference...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal judge sentenced Chase Smothermon, 32, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to 45 years in prison for abducting and assaulting two men, one of whom was tortured, killed, and mutilated. Smothermon suspected the victims of stealing drugs and money from his home. On Jan. 24, Smothermon pleaded...

PORTLAND, Ore. - A former nurse from Vancouver, Washington was sentenced to federal prison today for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances. Rene Elene Griffin Nunn, 60, was sentenced to eight months in prison and 3 years’ supervised release. At the time of the offense, Nunn...

SEATTLE - Twelve members of a drug trafficking group distributing fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine throughout the Puget Sound region were arrested today following a year-long investigation and two grand jury indictments. The members of the conspiracies engaged in trafficking activities from Mexico, through California and Oregon, and into the...

SEATTLE - Fifteen people were arrested today throughout the Puget Sound region and in California following an 18-month investigation of a drug trafficking organization tied to the CJNG cartel in Mexico. Defendants arrested today made their initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle. The South Sound Streets are safer...