DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
45 Results - Showing 1 to 10
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

Mexican National Sentenced for Central Valley Drug Conspiracy

FRESNO, Calif. — Genaro Serrato-Calles (“Serrato”), aka “Alejandro,” aka “Meno,” 49, of Michoacán, Mexico, was sentenced Tuesday to 148 months in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon and Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. His sentencing...
PRESS RELEASE

Mexican Citizen Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl in Bakersfield

FRESNO, Calif. — Jesus Adrian Pena-Gamez, 33, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon and Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Pena-Gamez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District...
PRESS RELEASE

Sacramento Man Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Christopher Kegan Williams, 26, of Sacramento, was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge John A. Mendez to 2.5 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon and Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According...
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...
PRESS RELEASE

Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting over 100 Pounds of Methamphetamine

FRESNO, Calif. — Randal Jason Newell, 41, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon and Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. According to court documents, on Dec. 5, 2020, Newell drove from Bakersfield to...
PRESS RELEASE

Phoenix Field Division Graduates 13 Community Members from the First Ever Citizen's Academy

PHOENIX - On October 2, 2021, thirteen Yavapai County community members proudly graduated from the Phoenix Field Division's (PFD) first ever DEA Citizen's Academy. The community-based training program provided civilians from the local community with a first-hand understanding of the critical mission and work conducted every day by the men...
PRESS RELEASE

Doctor Convicted of Illegally Prescribing Opioids to Patients

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Physician Edmund Kemprud, 78, of Dublin, was convicted today of 14 counts of illegally prescribing opioids and other controlled substances patients, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to evidence presented at trial, Kemprud was a physician licensed to practice medicine in California and worked in...
PRESS RELEASE

Bakersfield Fentanyl Dealer Pleads Guilty

FRESNO, Calif. — Uriel Ivan Portillo, 35, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon and Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Nov. 21, 2019, Portillo distributed 5,000...
PRESS RELEASE

Two Fresno County Residents Indicted for Dealing Fentanyl

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned two indictments today, charging two Fresno County men with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute it, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. In addition to being charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, Uriel Diaz-Santos, 19, of Fresno, was...