DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
598 Results - Showing 191 to 200
PRESS RELEASE

Albuquerque man in court for drug and firearm charges under Operation LeGend

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Toby Randall Walker, 36, appeared in federal court in Albuquerque on Oct. 1 on multiple drug and firearm charges brought under the Department of Justice’s Operation LeGend. According to a criminal complaint, on Sept. 29, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration encountered Walker and located 1,490 grams...
PRESS RELEASE

Carlsbad man sentenced to 20 years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking

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)...
PRESS RELEASE

Attorney General William P. Barr Joins DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea to Announce results of Operation Crystal Shield

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...
PRESS RELEASE

Attorney General William P. Barr Joins DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea to Announce results of Operation Crystal Shield

Los Angeles - 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...
PRESS RELEASE

Chase Smothermon sentenced to 45 years for abducting, torturing and killing one victim, brutally beating a second

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...
PRESS RELEASE

Mariah Ferry sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for kidnapping and brutal beating of two victims suspected of stealing drugs and money

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Mariah Ferry, 22, of Albuquerque, New Mexico was sentenced today in federal court in Santa Fe, New Mexico to 30 years in prison on charges related to the kidnappings and brutal assaults of two victims suspected of stealing drugs and money from the home of co-defendant, Chase...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA launches Secure Your Meds campaign, calls on Americans to keep medications safe

LOS ANGELES – With families encouraged to stay at home due to the nationwide health crisis, the Drug Enforcement Administration is asking Americans to keep prescription medications safe and secure until they can properly dispose of them. The Secure Your Meds awareness campaign addresses a vital public safety and health...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA launches Secure Your Meds campaign, calls on Americans to keep medications safe

WASHINGTON – With families encouraged to stay at home due to the nationwide health crisis, the Drug Enforcement Administration is asking Americans to keep prescription medications safe and secure until they can properly dispose of them. The Secure Your Meds awareness campaign addresses a vital public safety and health issue...
PRESS RELEASE

Man from Zuni, New Mexico sentenced to federal prison

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Cody Laweka, 29, of Zuni, New Mexico was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque today to four years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Laweka previously pleaded guilty to this offense on Jan. 15. According to his plea agreement, Laweka...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA-led operation nets more than 600 arrests targeting Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generation

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration today announced the results of Project Python, a DEA-led multilateral interagency operation encompassing all global investigations and related disruption activities targeting the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) . This announcement marks the successful conclusion of six months of investigative...