BEAUMONT, Texas – On Jan. 27, 2020, Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Director Mike McDaniel and DEA Houston Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple are pleased to announce the establishment of a new HIDTA initiative in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. The mission of the DEA-led...

CAMDEN, N.J. – New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced arrests in the takedown of a major Philadelphia-based gun trafficking ring that illegally trafficked numerous guns and methamphetamine into Camden. In total, the joint investigation, “Operation Zombie,” resulted in the recovery of...

WACO, Texas – On Jan. 24, 2020, a federal jury convicted 27–year-old Francisco Resendez Martinez of Gonzales, California, for attempting to deliver approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine from California to Waco, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and DEA Houston Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple. Jurors...

TRENTON, N.J. – DEA New Jersey Division Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Craig Carpenito announced a Pennsylvania man and two Mercer County, N.J., men today admitted their roles distributing heroin in and around Trenton. Duane Paulino-Escalera, 27, of Philadelphia...

NEWARK, N.J. – Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division Susan A. Gibson, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Craig Carpenito, announced three New Jersey men were charged with possession of cocaine and heroin with intent to distribute. Robin Peralta, 37, of...

LAREDO, Texas – Jesus Homero Ortiz, a 27-year-old resident of Laredo has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute nearly eight kilograms of fentanyl, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K...

HOUSTON – Three Colombian citizens are set to appear in federal court for their alleged roles in a drug smuggling attempt involving more than 1,300 kilograms of cocaine, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jesus Alfredo De La Cruz Orobio...

HOUSTON – An alleged ranking member of the Clan Del Golfo has been extradited to the United States to face numerous drug trafficking and money laundering charges, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, along with U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and FBI Special Agent in Charge...

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Mexican foreign national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to prison for conspiracy and meth smuggling, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The jury deliberated for less than three hours following a three-day trial...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 39-year-old Florida man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a Rio Grande Valley-based drug conspiracy, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Roberto Santos-Gonzalez pleaded guilty on June 4 to conspiracy with intent...