DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
69 Results - Showing 51 to 60
PRESS RELEASE

Mexican Cartel Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Violating RICO Statute

EL PASO – A Mexican national was sentenced today to life in prison for his role in the Sinaloa Cartel’s narcotics distribution operations. According to court documents, Arturo Shows Urquidi, aka “Chous,” 50, of Juarez, was a former Chihuahua State police officer and a long-time member of the Sinaloa Cartel...
PRESS RELEASE

New Mexico Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Meth and Firearm Charges

PECOS – Yesterday, a New Mexico man was sentenced to 240 months in prison for importing and possessing methamphetamine and 60 months in prison for a firearm charge. According to court documents, Jarod Richard Melancon, 38, was arrested on May 5, 2021, after a federal search warrant was executed on...
PRESS RELEASE

Mexican National Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Drug Smuggling Operation

EL PASO – On February 23, a Mexican national was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in a large marijuana conspiracy. According to court documents, Victor Gerardo Villegas, aka Victor Gerardo Villegas-Villalva, Gera, 34, of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, was a member of the Gente Nueva de...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Corrections Officer Arraigned on Drug Trafficking and Contraband Charges

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Dennis Dean Garcia, Jr., 34, of Grants, New Mexico, was arraigned in federal court on Feb. 2 on one count each of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine and attempt to provide contraband in prison. Garcia was indicted by a federal grand...
PRESS RELEASE

Midland Man Indicted for Possession of Fentanyl and Meth

PECOS – A federal grand jury in Pecos returned an indictment last week charging a Midland man with allegedly possessing illegal drugs and a firearm. According to court documents, Edgar Parra, 36, is charged by federal indictment with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and...
PRESS RELEASE

Sunland Park Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Rosa De Santiago, 48, of Sunland Park, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court today to 12 years in prison for her part in a drug trafficking and international money laundering conspiracy. De Santiago was one of 22 defendants charged in a 44-count superseding indictment on Aug...
PRESS RELEASE

Two Mexican Cartel Members Found Guilty of Violating RICO Statute

EL PASO – A federal jury convicted two Sinaloa Cartel members on Friday for their roles in the Sinaloa Cartel’s narcotics distribution operations. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Arturo Shows Urquidi, aka “Chous,” 50, of Juarez, Mexico and Mario Iglesias-Villegas, aka “Dos,” “El 2,” “Delta,” “Parka,”...
PRESS RELEASE

Three in Albuquerque Charged with Possessing, Trafficking Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – John Seibel, 25, Robert Pettit, 51, and Barbara Dockery, 64, all of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court June 17 for their roles in a drug trafficking organization run by Seibel, i.e, the Seibel DTO. Detention hearings for each defendant are scheduled for June 21. On June 9...
PRESS RELEASE

Odessa Area Methamphetamine Ring Members Sentenced to Federal Prison

MIDLAND, Texas - A federal judge sentenced the last of six defendants who were operating a methamphetamine distribution ring throughout the Odessa area. The judge sentenced 42-year-old Jeremy David Farley, aka “Biker,” to 30 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute approximately 27 kilograms of methamphetamine throughout the Odessa...
PRESS RELEASE

Prison healthcare company agrees to $215,000 settlement relating to Controlled Substances Act claims

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Fred J. Federici has announced that Centurion Correctional Healthcare New Mexico has agreed to a $215,000 settlement relating to civil claims brought by the Department of Justice on behalf of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Centurion...