BAKERSFIELD, Calif . – Leonard Velazquez-Martinez, 50, of Minnesota, and Joseph Andrade, 38, of Bakersfield, were arrested Monday for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. At the time of his arrest, Andrade was employed as a correctional officer at Wasco...

SACRAMENTO, Calif . – A grand jury returned a superseding indictment on Thursday that added money laundering charges to six defendants first charged in 2017 in a scheme to use money from China to buy houses to grow marijuana, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Charged with money laundering are...

FRESNO, Calif . – On June 17, 2019, Carlos Montano, aka “Loco,” 29, of Fresno, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill to 21 years and 10 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm and interstate transportation for prostitution...

SACRAMENTO, Calif . – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Arturo Zavaleta, 39, of Mexico, charging him with trafficking in heroin, methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, United States Attorney McGregor Scott announced. According to court documents, on June 3, 2019...

DETROIT – A Detroit-area doctor was sentenced to 60 months in prison today for his role in a scheme to unlawfully distribute more than 23,000 pills of oxycodone. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan...

CLEVELAND – The Drug Enforcement Administration has selected Cleveland as a DEA 360 city, offering additional resources focused on preventing drug abuse, with a particular emphasis on education about the dangers of opioids. The effort includes a website, a public awareness campaign, after-school activities and free presentations to schools and...

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – On Friday, June 14, 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federation of State Medical Boards hosted the Michigan Practitioner Diversion Awareness Training at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the United States and the...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sixteen members and associates of a prison-based gang have been charged after a long-running investigation into drug trafficking and murders inside and outside of California’s prisons. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott, and Special Agent in...

CLEVELAND – Federal and state law enforcement agents executed search warrants today at numerous Rite Aid locations as part of an ongoing investigation into potential irregularities in dispensing practices. Anyone who believes they have information relevant to this matter is encouraged to contact the DEA via email at Cleveland.Diversion@usdoj.gov...

DAYTON, Ohio – A man helping orchestrate a methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin trafficking conspiracy was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 180 months in prison. A federal indictment unsealed in July 2018 charged Salvador Ramirez, 24, of West Chester, along with six other people with engaging in a drug...