DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
1018 Results - Showing 281 to 290
PRESS RELEASE

Ten-Time Convicted Felon Who Trafficked Fentanyl Causing Deaths Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison

TAMPA , Fla . – On January 11, 2022, U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew sentenced Derrick Hutchins (36, Tampa) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Hutchins had pleaded guilty on October 13, 2021. According to court documents, on April 26...
PRESS RELEASE

Colombian National Extradited from Panama Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges in the United States

TAMPA, Fla. – Gerardo Gomez-Lubo, a/k/a Francisco Niño (42, Colombia), has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine knowing and intending it to be imported into the United States. Gomez-Lubo faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the...
PRESS RELEASE

Five Members of Pinellas County Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Charged and Arrested

TAMPA , Fla . –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Jovante Raschod Thomas, a/k/a “Wood,” a/k/a “Tae” (40, Pinellas Park), Troy Lydell Mctier Jr. (29, St. Petersburg), Adrian Fulton Ashby, (50, St. Petersburg) Marquesha Dequaila Leseon Isaac a/k/a “Auntie,” a/k/a “Angie” (36, St...
PRESS RELEASE

Pain Clinic Doctor and Staff Member Charged with Unlawful Distribution of Opioids

TAMPA, Fla. – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging Dr. Qing McGaha (55, Tampa) with conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of controlled substances and unlawful distribution of controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice, as...
PRESS RELEASE

Mexican National Living in Hialeah Sentenced to Over Eight Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Purchase Five Kilograms of Cocaine

MIAMI – Drug trafficker, Pablo Alexander Reyes-Sanchez, a 33-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced in federal court in Miami to 97 months in prison by Chief United States District Court Cecilia M. Altonaga. Reyes-Sanchez brokered a deal involving the purchase of five kilograms of cocaine for $160,000. Reyes-Sanchez traveled to Miami...
PRESS RELEASE

Nassau County Repeat Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Offense

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Shawn Andrew Wilson (47, Fernandina Beach) pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Wilson faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, and up to, 40 years in federal prison. According...
PRESS RELEASE

Record Fentanyl Seizure by DEA Phoenix, Scottsdale Police & the Arizona Attorney General’s Office as DEA Announces Nationwide Public Safety Surge

PHOENIX - As U.S. overdose deaths reach a devastating new height, claiming a new victim every five minutes, the Drug Enforcement Administration has revealed a direct link between fentanyl-related overdose deaths and criminal drug networks in Mexico. These groups are harnessing social media platforms to bring drugs laced with fentanyl...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Reveals Criminal Drug Networks Are Flooding the U.S. with Deadly Fentanyl

MIAMI - As U.S. overdose deaths reach a devastating new height, claiming a new victim every five minutes, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has revealed a direct link between fentanyl-related overdose deaths and criminal drug networks in Mexico. These groups are harnessing social media platforms to bring drugs laced with...
PRESS RELEASE

Juries Return Guilty Verdicts Against Couple for Murdering Government Witness

OCALA, Fla. – Following eight days of trial in federal court, David Chappell Fey (57, Belleview) and Shari Lynn Gunter (58, Ocklawaha) have each been found guilty as charged for the murder of a government witness. The trial required special accommodations: a separate jury heard evidence for each defendant. In...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA Phoenix Task Force and the Goodyear Police Department Seize Over 270,000 Fentanyl Pills, Guns and Money

PHOENIX - On December 9th, 2021, the DEA Phoenix Field Division Task Force and the Goodyear Police Department arrested Brian Meza-Raya, 18, of Phoenix, Arizona, who is facing multiple felony charges related to alleged drug distribution. Law enforcement served a search warrant on December 9th, at a residence in Phoenix...