United States Drug Enforcement Administration

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...

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Victor Nevarez, Juan Rivera Arzate, Adhemar Castaneda Becerril, and Pedro Gaona Salse were four of six charged defendants arrested and arraigned last week in federal court on narcotics trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Wade...

WICHITA, Kan. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment May 20 charging Alberto Vasquez, 48, of Tucson, Ariz., with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, fentanyl. Ever Quintana-Lopez, 31, of Wichita, was also charged with one count of possession of fentanyl with...

BOSTON – A Lawrence, Massachusetts, man was arrested yesterday on fentanyl distribution charges. Rafael Sierra-Baez, 42, was charged with five counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Following an initial appearance yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler, Sierra-Baez was detained pending a detention...

BOSTON – A Brockton, Massachusetts, man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with trafficking fentanyl and cocaine. Paul Nova, aka “Meagan,” 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 150 months in prison and four years of supervised release. In June 2021...

BOSTON – A Lowell, Massachusetts man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving methamphetamine disguised as counterfeit Adderall pills. Vimoon Sortsoy, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to five years in prison and four years...

BOSTON – A Lawrence, Massachusetts, man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl. Hector Minaya Melo, aka “El Jefe,” 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 54 months in prison. In May 2021, Minaya...

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie L. White sentenced on May 19 a drug dealer who mailed crystal methamphetamine to St. Louis from Arizona to seven and one-half years in prison. Hosea Simpson, 36, pleaded guilty in February to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Beginning in 2019...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Republic, Mo., man, who led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase, was sentenced in federal court May 19 for possessing methamphetamine to distribute. Heath E. Yarger, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 14 years in federal prison without parole. On...

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie L. White sentenced a significant dealer of methamphetamine May 19 to nine years in prison. Anne R. Jekel, 42, of St. Louis County, was caught multiple times in possession of methamphetamine and guns. On Nov. 29, 2016, Maryland Heights police officers arrested...