DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
872 Results - Showing 671 to 680
PRESS RELEASE

Officer And Co-Defendant Arrested In Conspiracy To Traffic Cocaine

McALLEN, Texas - Noel Pena, 29, a Rio Grande City Police Department investigator, has been arrested and made his initial appearance on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson...
PRESS RELEASE

Houston Man Pleads Guilty To Role In Money Laundering Conspiracy

McALLEN, Texas - Alejandro Morales-Flores, 60, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Houston, has entered a plea of guilty in McAllen federal court to conspiring to commit money laundering, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. On Oct. 24...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Piedras Negras “Plaza” Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Distribution Charge

SAN ANTONIO - In San Antonio today, 46-year-old Esiquiel (aka “Cheke”), a former major drug trafficker in the Piedras Negras “Plaza,” pleaded guilty to his leadership role in the importation and distribution of thousands of kilograms of narcotics into the United States from Mexico announced DEA Special Agent in Charge...
PRESS RELEASE

Twenty-Four Indicted For Trafficking Methamphetamine Through East Texas

BEAUMONT, Texas - Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today the indictment of 24 individuals who operated a major drug distribution ring and were responsible for trafficking methamphetamine to customers across the United States, including in the...
PRESS RELEASE

Laredo Jury Convicts Bus Passenger Of Heroin Smuggling

LAREDO, Texas - Altagracia Guadalupe Vargas, 28, of Laredo, has been convicted of conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute Heroin, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. The jury returned its verdict following a three-day trial and...
PRESS RELEASE

Two Local Marijuana Traffickers Sentenced To Prison

McALLEN, Texas - Two McAllen men have received significant sentences for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana and conspiring to launder the drug proceeds, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Alberto Alaniz, 51, and Jose...
PRESS RELEASE

Former HPD Officer Ordered To Prison For Drug Conspiracy Conviction

HOUSTON - Former Houston Police (HPD) officer Marcos E. Carrion has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a drug conspiracy, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Carrion entered a guilty plea to the charge Thursday...
PRESS RELEASE

Alleged High Ranking Member Of Los Zetas Cartel Arrested

LAREDO, Texas - Jose Manuel Saldivar-Farias aka “Z-31” or “El Borrado” has been charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana allegations after illegally entering the U.S., announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Saldivar-Farias, 27, is alleged to be a...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Fugitive Narcotics Trafficker Handed Hefty Sentence

McALLEN, Texas - Jose Urbano Cortinas, 29, has been ordered to prison for nearly 23 years following his conviction of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Cortinas, of Memphis...
PRESS RELEASE

Former Gulf Cartel Plaza Bosses Receive Long Prison Sentences

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Jose Luis Zuniga-Hernandez, 47, aka Wicho or XW or Commandante Wicho, has been ordered to federal prison along with his brother Armando Arizmendi Hernandez, 37, aka Commandante Mando or XW2 for conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana...