ST. LOUIS – Rita Aramyan of Las Vegas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Aramyan appeared today before U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie L. White. Beginning in April 2013 and ending around May 2019, Aramyan was part of a drug trafficking organization that conspired to distribute...

ST. LOUIS – Gregory Simms, 33, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Simms appeared today, before U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie L. White. On June 13, 2020, St. Charles County police stopped Simms for driving a vehicle...

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public of a widespread fraud scheme in which telephone scammers impersonate DEA agents in an attempt to extort money or steal personal identifiable information. A new public service announcement aims to raise awareness that DEA will never phone demanding money or...

WICHITA, Kans. – The Drug Enforcement Administration Wichita Resident Office announced today the launch of Operation Engage, a new comprehensive law enforcement and prevention initiative aimed at reducing drug use, abuse, and overdose deaths. Operation Engage allows participating DEA divisions to focus on the biggest drug threat and resulting violence...

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. sentenced Keith Estep to 120 months in prison today. The 42-year-old House Springs, Missouri, resident pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with the intent...

WASHINGTON – DEA Acting Administrator D. Christopher Evans today announced the release of the 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment, DEA’s annual publication outlining the threats posed to the United States by domestic and international drug trafficking and the abuse of illicit drugs. “This year’s report shows the harsh reality of...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eight defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $4.1 million conspiracy to distribute more than 520 kilograms of methamphetamine. Tina Marie Bailey, 36, and Martin Lee Williams, 58, both of Kansas City, Mo.; Mark Williams Hildebrand II, 31, and...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With opioid overdose deaths increasing during the pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced its 20th Take Back Day scheduled for April 24. At its last Take Back Day in October, DEA collected a record-high amount of expired, unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to...

ST. LOUIS – Maurice Woodson, 34, of St. Louis, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine; one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death; and one count of witness tampering. Woodson appeared today before U.S. District Judge Henry...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration launched a comprehensive law enforcement and prevention support initiative aimed at reducing drug use, abuse, and overdose deaths. “Operation Engage” allows participating field divisions to focus on the biggest drug threat in their respective geographic areas. The initiative builds on...