DALLAS, TX - Twelve alleged drug traffickers were arrested Wednesday in Operation Tormenta De Arena (“Sandstorm”), announced Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division During the bust in Lubbock, Brownfield, and Lamesa, DEA agents and their law enforcement partners also seized roughly 27 pounds...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Mark Beale, 75, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, pleaded guilty on March 25 in federal court to unlawful dispensing and distributing of a schedule II controlled substance. Beale will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing. A federal grand jury indicted Beale on June 23, 2021. According...

DALLAS, TX- An Arlington physician has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for fraud and drug crimes, announced DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. In July 2021, a federal jury convicted physician Clinton Battle, 69, of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one...

EL PASO – A Mexican national was sentenced today to life in prison and ordered to pay a $100,000 fine for his role in the Sinaloa Cartel’s operations. According to court documents, Mario Iglesias-Villegas, aka “Dos,” “El 2,” “Delta,” “Parka,” “Grim Reaper,” 37, of Villa Ahumada, became a member of...

DALLAS, TX - A Fort Worth man who allegedly sold fake Percocet pills laced with fentanyl has been charged with a federal drug crime, announced Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas Troy Wright, 40, was indicted on three counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl...

ALPINE – A Midland man pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to possess fentanyl and one count of illegal possession of a firearm. According to court documents, between August and October 2021, Edgar Parra, 36, sold a total of 112.3 grams of fentanyl to undercover DEA operatives on...

An Austin man with alleged ties to a double homicide has been charged with a drug crime, announced Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez Fernando Molina, 38, was charged via criminal complaint on Feb. 16 and indicted this week, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a...

EL PASO – A Cuban national living in Fort Hancock was sentenced today to 460 months in prison for drugs, firearms and immigration crimes. On July 23, 2021, Gilberto Morales, 57, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to possess 1,000 kilograms or more of...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jeffery Dean Biddle, 41, of Deming, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court on March 2 facing charges of production and attempted production of child pornography, receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography, and enticement and attempted enticement. Biddle will remain in custody pending a...

EL PASO – A Mexican national was sentenced today to life in prison for his role in the Sinaloa Cartel’s narcotics distribution operations. According to court documents, Arturo Shows Urquidi, aka “Chous,” 50, of Juarez, was a former Chihuahua State police officer and a long-time member of the Sinaloa Cartel...