DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
7 Results - Showing 1 to 7
PRESS RELEASE

Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Angel Valencia-Avendano, 20, of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, was sentenced last week by United States Chief District Judge G. Murray Snow to 84 months in prison. Valencia-Avendano pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. On March 6, 2023, Valencia-Avendano was arrested and charged with fentanyl trafficking...
PRESS RELEASE

Malas Manas Transnational Criminal Organization Leadership Indicted on Charges of Human Smuggling and Drug Trafficking

Phoenix, Ariz. - On November 29, 2023, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an 11-count indictment against Jorge Damian Roman-Figueroa, Luis Eduardo Roman-Flores, Manuel Jose Bernal, Joel Salazar-Ballesteros, and Jesus Armando Gonzalez-Villela, citizens of Mexico, for Conspiracy to Transport Aliens; Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments; Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana...
PRESS RELEASE

Man Charged Following Seizure of Over One Million Suspected Fentanyl Pills

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Juan Alfonso Torres-Rodriguez, 27, of Mexico, was charged by criminal complaint on March 9, 2023, with one count of Possessing Suspected Fentanyl Pills for Distribution. The complaint alleges that, on the evening of March 8, 2023, law enforcement officers observed Torres-Rodriguez participating in a suspected drug transaction...
PRESS RELEASE

DEA, Arizona Attorney General & Tempe Police Announce 150+ Subjects Charged & Massive Quantities of Narcotics Seized

PHOENIX– Today, DEA in partnership with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Tempe Police Department announced the culmination of a three-year long investigation targeting the Sinaloa Drug Cartel. To date, over 150 individuals have been charged and investigators have seized over 4.5 million fentanyl laced fake prescription pills, 66...
PRESS RELEASE

Investigation by Tucson Strike Force Leads to Indictment of 13 Involved in Drug Distribution Conspiracy

TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced the unsealing of a 30-count indictment against 13 individuals for charges related to the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. On May 4, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned the indictment against the...
PRESS RELEASE

Three Arrested After Distributing Methamphetamine and Fake Pills from Phoenix Auto Dealership

PHOENIX - On January 20, 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) arrested three subjects who were distributing methamphetamine and fake M30 pills suspected to contain fentanyl from BSG Auto Sales in Phoenix, Arizona. Investigators seized from the auto dealership approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine, 4,000 M30 pills suspected to...
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...