DEA Archived Press Releases

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

Retired Colombian Police General Sentenced To 13 Years For Conspiring To Provide Material Support To Terrorists

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Mauricio Santoyo Velasco, 53, ofColombia, was sentenced today to 13 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to provide material support and resources to the United Self-Defense Forces of (AUC), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for...
PRESS RELEASE

Three Carlsbad Residents Indicted On Federal “Spice” Trafficking Charges

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - A federal grand jury in Las Cruces, N.M., yesterday returned an indictment charging Garlan R. Plumlee, 60, Justin E. Thompson, 32, and Phillip Larez, 31, all of Carlsbad, N.M., with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue, distribution of a controlled substance analogue, and possession of...
PRESS RELEASE

Seven Members Of Las Cruces-Based Prescription Drug Trafficking Ring Facing Federal Charges

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A federal grand jury has indicted seven residents of Las Cruces, N.M., on conspiracy and prescription drug trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales and Joseph M. Arabit, Special Agent in Charge of the El Paso Field Division of the Drug Enforcement (DEA). Michael Garret Schavier...
PRESS RELEASE

Project Below The Beltway Targets Sinaloa And Juarez Cartels And Affiliated Violent Street Gangs Nationwide

EL PASO, Texas - The Drug Enforcement (DEA) today announced the results of “Project Below the Beltway”, a two-year series of investigations targeting the Sinaloa and Juarez Cartels and associated violent street gangs as part of on-going strategy against the cartels and their distribution networks in the United States. The...
PRESS RELEASE

Albuquerque Man Arrested On Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Charges

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - - Earlier today, Charles Padilla, 44, of Albuquerque, N.M., made his initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Padilla is temporarily detained pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing, both of which are scheduled...
PRESS RELEASE

Hagerstown Drug Dealer Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison

BALTIMORE - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced David Barnes, 32, of Hagerstown, Maryland, today to 15 years in prison followed by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine (crack cocaine) and cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine...
PRESS RELEASE

Former El Paso County Commissioner Willie Gandara, Jr. Sentenced To Federal Prison

EL PASO, Texas - In El Paso this afternoon, former El Paso County Precinct 3 Commissioner Guillermo “Willie” Gandara, Jr., 37, of El Paso, was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment on federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges announced Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, U.S...
PRESS RELEASE

Baltimore Drug Dealer Exiled To 10 Years In Prison On Drug Charges

BALTIMORE - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Curtis Bird, 37, of Baltimore, today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The sentence was announced by...
PRESS RELEASE

Federal Investigation Dismantles Deming-Based Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Nine individuals, who allegedly participated in a Deming, N.M., based conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, have been charged with narcotics trafficking offenses in a federal indictment that was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico in Las Cruces. The indictment...
PRESS RELEASE

Cocaine Dealer Exiled To Over 10 Years In Prison

BALTIMORE - U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Gregory Fitzgerald, 46, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 126 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The sentence was announced...