United States Drug Enforcement Administration

TAMPA, F la. – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Efrain Rivera Matos (45, Tampa) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl charges . Rivera Matos pleaded guilty on December 8, 2023 . According to court documents, on July 27, 2022...

TAMPA, F la. - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Raymond Montanez (42, Land O’ Lakes) has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. Each count carries a minimum mandatory term of 5 years...

TAMPA, Fla . – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Jesus Andres Villapudua, a/k/a “Chik” (35, San Luis, Arizona), and Noel Alfredo Garcia, (34, Las Vegas, Nevada) with conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams...

TAMPA, Fla . –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Marcus Lutrell Walden (36 , Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine and p-fluorofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue) . Walden faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not...

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram has announced the appointment of Steven L. Hofer as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the New Orleans Field Division. SAC Hofer brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, having served in various leadership positions within the DEA and...

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Today, Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that King Drug Co., Inc. (King Drug), a pharmacy previously doing business in Samson, Alabama, along with owner Traci Revels McCoy, is liable to the United States for $110,000 in civil monetary penalties after failing to comply with...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced today a settlement with pharmaceutical distributor Morris & Dickson Co., LLC for failing to maintain effective controls against diversion of controlled substances, including failure to report to DEA thousands of unusually large orders of oxycodone and hydrocodone. Morris & Dickson, which...

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Ronnie Lee Seward (41, Seffner) to 25 years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine . Seward entered a guilty plea on September 20, 2023 . According to court documents, on January 12, 2023, the...

TAMPA, F la. – U.S. District Judge Katherine Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Javontah Harris, a/k/a “Gut,” (21, St. Petersburg) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute...

TAMPA, F la. – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Alonso Pineda-Torres (52, Colombia), a/k/a “Galladita,” to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine on board vessels subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Pineda-Torres entered a guilty plea on October...