DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
16 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

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

Passaic County Man Sentenced to 150 Months in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl that Led to Overdose Death

NEWARK, N.J. – Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division Daniel J. Kafafian and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger announced a Passaic County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 150 months in prison for distributing fentanyl that...
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”...
PRESS RELEASE

Downey Man Arrested on Federal Charges Alleging He Sold Fake Prescription Pills that Caused Fatal Fentanyl Overdose

LOS ANGELES – A Downey man has been arrested on federal charges of selling counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl to a 17-year-old Downey female who suffered a fatal overdose from the synthetic opioid, the Justice Department announced today. Jonathan Limas-Reyes, 26, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon by special agents...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA LA Recognizes National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day

LOS ANGELES – On Sunday, August 21, the Drug Enforcement Administration will recognize National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day by joining the many voices dedicated to educating the public on the serious dangers of fentanyl poisoning from fake pills and other illicit drugs. DEA supports the efforts of several organizations...
PRESS RELEASE

Man Arrested on Federal Charges of Selling Fake Pills that caused Fatal Fentanyl Overdose

LOS ANGELES – A Paso Robles man has been arrested on federal charges of selling counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl to a 19-year-old Atascadero resident who suffered a fatal overdose from the synthetic opioid, the Justice Department announced today. Timothy Clark Wolfe, 24, was taken into custody Thursday by special...
PRESS RELEASE

San Fernando Valley Man Who Sold Counterfeit Prescription Pills Containing Fentanyl Admits Causing Overdose Death of U.S. Marine

LOS ANGELES – A Sylmar man pleaded guilty this afternoon to two federal drug trafficking offenses, one of which stemmed from a 2020 transaction in which he sold bogus oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that caused a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton to suffer a fatal overdose. Gustavo Jaciel...