PORTLAND, Ore.—A Mexican National residing in Marion County, Oregon was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in the 2019 kidnapping and murder of a Washington State man and other drug trafficking crimes. Marcos Alonso Castillo-Bernal, 48, was sentenced to 312 months in federal prison and 10 years’ supervised...

RICHLAND, Wash. – United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Jose Mendoza-Ruelas, 38, to 150 months in federal prison after his guilty plea to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine, 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, and 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine. Mendoza-Ruelas...

SEATTLE, Wash.– Today, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced the results of a year-long national operation, “Operation Last Mile,” targeting operatives, associates, and distributors affiliated with the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels responsible for the last mile of fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution on our streets and on social media. DEA’s top...

TACOMA, Wash. – A Snohomish, Washington, man who was rearrested following his sentencing in a drug trafficking scheme, has now pleaded guilty to new charges, including attempting to hire a hitman to kill a witness in his case, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Michael John Scott, 44, was sentenced in...

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Bothell, Washington man is facing federal drug charges after he was caught transporting large quantities of fentanyl powder and methamphetamine on Interstate 5 in Marion County, Oregon. Edilio Abimael Giron-Rodas, 34, has been charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to...

PORTLAND, Ore.—A suspected drug trafficker faces federal charges after he was caught transporting dozens of pounds of powdered fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other illegal drugs on Interstate 5 near Salem, Oregon. Miguel Cruz-Barrales, 22, whose place of residence is unknown, has been charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to...

PORTLAND, Ore.—An Arizona man is facing federal charges after he was caught transporting 100,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, two pounds of powdered fentanyl, and six pounds of cocaine on Interstate 84 in La Grande, Oregon. Moises Rojo Velazquez, 36, of Phoenix, Arizona, has been charged by criminal complaint with...

SPOKANE, Wash. –The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement (BIA), and the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force, and other federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, executed a series of federal search warrants at a number of residential locations in rural Okanogan County...

BOISE, Idaho – Two men from southern Idaho were sentenced to federal prison in separate drug trafficking cases, announced U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit. Steven Feller, 65, of Kuna, was sentenced to 114 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill...

SEATTLE, Wash.– A federal grand jury indicted six people in connection with a Whatcom County fentanyl distribution organization, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The ring has been under investigation since late 2022 and was actively moving fentanyl from the Seattle area to redistributors in the Bellingham, Washington area. Three of...