FRESNO, Calif. - Ramsey Jeries Farraj, 41, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for conspiring with his former business partner, Majed Bashir “Mike” Akroush, 49, also of Bakersfield, to structure $4,204,965 obtained from the sale of smokeable synthetic drugs, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Smokable...

FRESNO, Calif. - Timothy Ortiz, aka Michael Fitton, 46, of Waukegan, Illinois, pled guilty today for his role in a large-scale smokeable synthetic cannabinoids trafficking organization that shipped misbranded synthetic drugs interstate from a processing lab in Millbrae, California, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Smokeable synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known...

McALLEN, Texas - A 43-year-old sergeant with the Progresso police department has been taken into custody on charges of aiding and abetting the attempt to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division, Steven Whipple and...

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - DEA Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Houston Division, Steven Whipple, Comal County District Attorney Jennifer Tharp, Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds and New Braunfels Chief of Police Tom Wibert announced that a combined special task force executed search and arrest warrants culminating in the arrests of...

LAREDO, Texas - A Laredoan and a Mexican National have been convicted for their roles in possessing with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division, Steven Whipple and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Alan Gonzalez, 28...

FRESNO, Calif. - Two former deputies with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office were sentenced today for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced Logan August, 30, of Bakersfield, to three years’ probation, $16,200...

FRESNO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Omar Felix-Corrales, 38, and Valeria Silvas Villarreal, 23, both of Mexico, charging them with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, and Felix-Corrales alone with possession of a firearm in relation to a drug...

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Hugo Morales, 45, of Edinburg, Texas, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division, Steven Whipple and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Morales admitted to conspiring with others to distribute more...

LAREDO, Texas - Four more defendants who were convicted in a marijuana trafficking and money laundering conspiracy have been ordered to federal prison, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven Whipple, Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Ricardo Ramirez, 31, and Leslie Bernice Trejo, 24, both of...

LAREDO, Texas - A Nuevo Laredo man and a Laredo woman have been ordered to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic drugs via the World Trade Bridge, announced DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven Whipple, Houston Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Daniel Rodirugez...