United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CORPUS CHRISTI, Tex. - A luxury condominium located in South Padre Island alleged to be owned by former Tamaulipas Mexico Governor Tomas Yarrington has been successfully forfeited to the government, Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Peña and United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. The real...

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...

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...

HOUSTON, Texas - The Drug Enforcement (DEA) continues to warn the public about criminals posing as DEA Special Agents or other law enforcement personnel. This criminal activity continues to occur, despite significant public attention to the illicit scheme. DEA offices nationwide regularly receive telephone calls from concerned citizens who are...

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...

LAREDO, Texas - Samuel Walker, 29, an active duty U.S. Army member, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Calvin Epps, aka Beef, 28, of Hopkins, S.C., have been found guilty on a variety of charges in relation to a murder-for-hire and drug trafficking conspiracy, Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge...

HOUSTON - Francisco Santibanez, 33, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison following his conviction for use of interstate commerce facilities in murder-for-hire, Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Peña and United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Santibanez, of Houston, pleaded guilty Dec. 5...

LAREDO, Texas - Two men have entered pleas of guilty and two more have received sentences for their roles in a money laundering investigation relating to the laundering of millions of drug proceeds by Los Zetas, Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Javier F Peña and United States Attorney...

LAREDO, Texas - Two drug and money laundering co-conspirators are headed to federal prison as a result of a long-term Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Investigation dubbed “Operation Havoc,” Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge and Javier F. Peña and United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. One...

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...