DEA Archived Press Releases

Press Releases before January 20, 2025
21 Results - Showing 11 to 20
PRESS RELEASE

Bakersfield man pleads guilty to conspiring to structure funds

FRESNO, Calif . — Majed Bashir Akroush, aka "Mike Akroush," aka "Magic Mike," 52, of Bakersfield, California, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to structure at least half a million dollars in cash withdrawals from his bank accounts, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux and U.S. Attorney...
PRESS RELEASE

El Dorado County man pleads guilty to distributing a designer drug from the dark web that caused the death of a minor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Elijah Richter, 28, of Camino, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a controlled substance known as 25I-NBOMe that caused death, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux announced. According to court documents, during September 2012, Richter imported hallucinogenic...
PRESS RELEASE

Owner of Fauquier County gas station pleads guilty to distributing spice

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Gainesville man pleaded guilty today to selling synthetic cannabinoids—commonly known as “spice” or “K2”—from the gas station he owned and operated with his business partner in Fauquier County. “Spice is a toxic mix of dangerous chemicals that can be deadly,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern...
PRESS RELEASE

St. Joseph Man sentenced for $6 million in synthetic cannabinoid conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A St. Joseph, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute nearly $6 million of synthetic cannabinoid products, also known as K2. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration-St. Louis Division and IRS-Criminal Investigation. Shakeel Khan...
PRESS RELEASE

Bend man sentened to federal prison after hash oil explosion

PORTLAND, Ore .—David Carl Paulsen, 33, of Bend, Oregon, was sentenced on Dec.10, 2019, to 12 months and one day in federal prison and two years’ supervised release for illegally manufacturing and possessing marijuana during a March 2018 butane honey oil explosion in Bend. According to court documents, on March...
PRESS RELEASE

Missouri man pleads guilty to interstate marijuana trafficking conspiracy

FRESNO, Calif. — Halen Steven Patrick Frazier, 33, of Lone Jack, Missouri, entered a guilty plea to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, which was shipped from California to Kansas City, Drug Enforcement Administration San Francisco Division Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen and U.S. Attorney...
PRESS RELEASE

Cottage Grove man sentenced to federal prison for hash oil explosion

PORTLAND, Ore.—Eric L. Scully, of Cottage Grove, Oregon, was sentenced on June 20th, 2019, to 78 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release for endangering human life and illegally possessing and manufacturing marijuana during a November 2017 butane honey oil (BHO) explosion in Cottage Grove. Scully was also...
PRESS RELEASE

Sixth hash oil lab dismantled by DEA within three week period

LEMON GROVE, Calif. – Yesterday the United States Drug Enforcement Administration executed a federal search warrant at a warehouse located at 7648 Lemon Avenue, Lemon Grove, Calif., and uncovered a sophisticated hash oil refinery laboratory operation. Large quantities of ethanol were removed from the property by San Diego County HAZMAT...
PRESS RELEASE

NTF dismantles butane hash oil extraction lab 15 times larger than lab that caused recent explosion

WARNER SPRINGS, Calif. – Yesterday the DEA’s Narcotic Task Force executed a state search warrant at 30570 Chihuahua Valley Road, Warner Springs, Calif. Agents uncovered a sophisticated butane hash oil extraction lab inside three trailers on the property. In addition to extracting hash oil, the lab operators were also refining...
PRESS RELEASE

Three indicted for drug conspiracy involving a record number of THC cartridges used with vaping cartridges

CLEVELAND - Three people were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute THC. Indicted are Frank Altieri, 25, of Brooklyn, Florida; and David Bruell, 28, of Pepper Pike, Ohio, and James Campbell, 35, of Boynton Beach, Florida. They are each charged with one count of...