PORTLAND, Ore.—In related criminal cases, Cole Williams Griffiths and Raleigh Dragon Lau pleaded guilty on April 22, 2019, for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic marijuana grown in Hood River, Oregon and Portland to Virginia, Texas, and Florida. Drug proceeds, in the form of bulk U.S. currency, were returned...

SEATTLE – This Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, the Drug Enforcement Administration and its local law enforcement, community and tribal partners in the Pacific Northwest will collect expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications at one of 230 collection sites. There are 19 collection sites...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Christopher Thomas Howard, a/k/a “Indy,” 33, of Fairbanks, has been federally indicted with three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Howard was arrested on April 5, 2019, based on a criminal complaint. According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 3, 2019, Howard allegedly negotiated to sell two ounces...

NEW ORLEANS – With robust public participation over the course of 16 prior events, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative continues to remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse by family members and visitors...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In our continued efforts to stop the supply of illegal drugs, make our communities safer and protect the lives of our children, DEA and our law enforcement partners constantly monitor drug trends, demand shifts and drug supply increases. As such, our criminal intelligence networks have indicated an...

BOISE, Idaho – Roberto Joe Miguel Serpa, 39, of Caldwell, was sentenced this week for his role in two federal drug crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis. Serpa was sentenced on April 16, 2019, to 126 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Serpa was sentenced...

SPOKANE, Wash. – Carlos Peraza-Kissi, age 25, of Yakima, Washington, was sentenced April 17, 2019, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Peraza-Kissi to a 188-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court supervision after he is...

BOISE, Idaho – Jennifer L. Fanopoulos, 41, of Boise, was sentenced yesterday to three years of probation for obtaining controlled substances by fraud. Fanopoulos was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge. Fanopoulos pleaded guilty on Oct. 25, 2018. According to court records, Fanopoulos was employed as a...

NEW ORLEANS – The Drug Enforcement Administration today announced that New Orleans and the surrounding parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard will be the 16th pilot city to be part of a comprehensive law enforcement and prevention “360 Strategy,” designed to help cities dealing with the heroin and prescription drug...

PORTLAND, Ore . – Paul Eugene Thomas, 38, of Portland, pleaded guilty on April 10, 2019, to one count of conspiring to manufacture, possess with intent to distribute, distributing marijuana, maintaining drug involved premises and one count of money laundering for his role in a vast conspiracy to traffic marijuana...