DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
24 Results - Showing 1 to 10
PRESS RELEASE

Antelope Valley Man Faces New Charge Alleging He Knowingly Sold Fentanyl to Second Victim Who Died

LOS ANGELES – A Palmdale man already facing one charge of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death has been charged by federal grand jury indictment with an additional count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death related to the death of a Palmdale man in August, the Justice Department announced...
PRESS RELEASE

Santa Clarita Man Charged with Distributing Opioid More Powerful than Fentanyl and Causing Victim’s Overdose Death

LOS ANGELES – A Santa Clarita man has been arraigned on an indictment alleging he distributed protonitazene – a novel synthetic opioid that is up to three times more powerful than fentanyl – which resulted in a victim’s fatal overdose this spring, the Justice Department announced today. Benjamin Anthony Collins...
PRESS RELEASE

Five Defendants, Including Two Doctors, Charged in Connection with Actor Matthew Perry's Fatal Overdose Death Last Year

LOS ANGELES – A licensed physician and an alleged San Fernando Valley drug dealer were arrested today in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry, who suffered a fatal ketamine overdose in October 2023. In total, five defendants, including two doctors, have been charged in this matter, according to...
PRESS RELEASE

Idaho Man Pleads Guilty to Selling His Co-Worker Fentanyl Pills that Resulted in the Co-Worker’s Death

BOISE, Idaho – Tanner Lee Goforth, 37, of Nampa, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl after selling a co-worker fentanyl that led to his overdose death, announced U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit today. According to court records, on May 17, 2022, Goforth met his friend and co-worker, the victim, at a...
PRESS RELEASE

Organized Drug Crime Ring Attempted to Flood Alaskan Villages with Fentanyl, 54 Indicted

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska announced today that 54 people have been charged through nine indictments in connection with a large-scale organized crime ring operating within the state of Alaska. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska, Assistant Special Agent...
PRESS RELEASE

Rolling Hills Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl-Laced Pills that Caused High School Freshman’s Death

LOS ANGELES – A South Bay man, who in May 2020 distributed fentanyl-laced pills to a 15-year-old boy and mocked the victim online as he was dying of an overdose, was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison. Alexander Declan Bell Wilson, 23, of Rolling Hills, was sentenced by...
PRESS RELEASE

Pocatello Woman Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl

POCATELLO, Idaho – Hailey M. Card, 32, of Pocatello, was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. The fentanyl distributed by Card was consumed by a Pocatello man who died from a fentanyl overdose. According to court records...
PRESS RELEASE

Ellensburg Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Distribution that Resulted in the Deaths of Two Young People

YAKIMA, Wash. – Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Jonathan Rivera-Venegas, age 21, of Ellensburg, Washington, to 132 months in federal prison after Rivera-Venegas had pleaded guilty on December 7, 2022 to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. Rivera-Venegas will also serve five years of supervised release after his...
PRESS RELEASE

McMinnville, Oregon Man Faces Federal Charges for Selling Fentanyl That Caused Seven to Overdose, One Fatally

PORTLAND, Ore.—A McMinnville, Oregon man is facing federal charges after selling fentanyl he claimed was cocaine that caused seven people to overdose, one fatally. John Kyle Donnahoo, 28, has been charged by criminal complaint with distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death. According to court documents, on...
PRESS RELEASE

Federal and Local Law Enforcement Announce New Public Education Campaign to Highlight Danger of Fentanyl – “Death in Disguise”

RIVERSIDE, California – Inland Empire law enforcement officials today rolled out a public outreach education campaign to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis and the skyrocketing number of fentanyl poisonings. Anchored by a new public service announcement titled “ Death in Disguise” that expands on the DEA-led “One Pill Can Kill”...