United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN FRANCISCO – United States Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen and the U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson announce that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged 13 defendants with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The charges were made in a complaint filed July 31...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Salvador Padilla III, 39, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley, to 10 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen announced. On May 23, 2019, Padilla pleaded guilty...

MIDLAND, Texas – Ryan David Green, 27, of Midland, faces up to life in federal prison time after pleading guilty this week to firearm and drug trafficking charges in connection with the murder of two Midland residents in July 2015, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Midland Police Chief Seth...

SAN FRANCISCO – Kia Zolfaghari pleaded guilty today to charges regarding his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, as well as to related weapons and money laundering charges, announced U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson and DEA Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen. The plea was accepted by Senior United...

SAN JOSE, Calif. – A federal grand jury indicted Alexander Taylor on charges of impersonating a federal officer and possession of a counterfeit seal of an agency of the United States, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and DEA Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen. The indictment, filed earlier...

BAKERSFIELD, Calif . – Leonard Velazquez-Martinez, 50, of Minnesota, and Joseph Andrade, 38, of Bakersfield, were arrested Monday for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. At the time of his arrest, Andrade was employed as a correctional officer at Wasco...

FRESNO, Calif . – On June 17, 2019, Carlos Montano, aka “Loco,” 29, of Fresno, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill to 21 years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm and interstate transportation for prostitution...

SACRAMENTO, Calif . – A grand jury returned a superseding indictment on Thursday that added money laundering charges to six defendants first charged in 2017 in a scheme to use money from China to buy houses to grow marijuana, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Charged with money laundering are...

SACRAMENTO, Calif . – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Arturo Zavaleta, 39, of Mexico, charging him with trafficking in heroin, methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, United States Attorney McGregor Scott announced. According to court documents, on June 3, 2019...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Omil Cotto, 33, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to charges of methamphetamine possession with the intent to distribute and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The evidence acquired during the investigation shows that at approximately 2:39...