WASHINGTON – Today, Attorney General William P. Barr and Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea announced the results of Operation Crystal Shield, DEA’s six-month-long effort targeting the command and control elements of Mexican cartels that operate major methamphetamine “transportation hubs” in the United States. At a press conference...

On September 4, 2020, Robert J. Bell, DEA Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Division, announced that on July 8, 2020, U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Krueger joined Attorney General William P. Barr in announcing the launch of Operation Legend, a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal judge sentenced Chase Smothermon, 32, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to 45 years in prison for abducting and assaulting two men, one of whom was tortured, killed, and mutilated. Smothermon suspected the victims of stealing drugs and money from his home. On Jan. 24, Smothermon pleaded...

CHICAGO— Two men have been charged in federal court with looting three pharmacies in Chicago. William Lorenz, 40, of Chicago, and Ivan Bermudez, 42, of Chicago, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit burglary involving a controlled substance. Bermudez was arrested Tuesday. He is scheduled to make...

SOUTH BEND, Ind.- Robert J. Bell, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Division, and United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II announced Jamar Sims, age 27, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio upon his plea of guilty to...

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Robert J. Bell, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Division, and U.S. Attorney Kirsch announced Juan M. Hernandez, age 40, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty following his plea of guilty to possession with intent to...

HAMMOND, Ind. – Robert J. Bell, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Chicago Division, and United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II announced that Jesus Lopez, 42 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to possession with intent to...

CHICAGO – Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Bell, Drug Enforcement Administration, Chicago Division, announced that Michael O’Bannon, 36, and Shaun Myers, 38, both of Kokomo, Indiana, were recently sentenced for their roles in a large drug trafficking ring that operated in Kokomo, Indiana. O’Bannon and Myers were sentenced to...

MADISON, Wis. – Robert J. Bell, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division announced today that a federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned an indictment today for Brian K. Dennis, 50, Spooner, Wisconsin. Dennis is charged with possessing 50...

INDIANAPOLIS — Robert J. Bell, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Chicago Division, and United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Reggie M. Balentine, 43, Kokomo, Ind., and Perry O. Jones, 45, Kokomo, Indiana were sentenced for their role in a large drug trafficking ring operating in Kokomo, Indiana...