YAKIMA, Wash. – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Susen Ann Gorst, age 34, of Toppenish, Washington. The federal indictment charges Gorst with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine...

SEATTLE – The Arlington, Washington based leader of a prolific and violent drug trafficking ring pleaded guilty this week to federal drug, gun, and money laundering crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Cesar Valdez-Sanudo, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and carrying...

Seattle – A father and son who ran a multimillion-dollar illegal marijuana business in Monroe, Washington, were each sentenced to five-year prison terms today, on drug and money laundering charges. Kenneth Warren Rhule, 28, was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana and laundering...

Seattle – A significant drug distributor for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to nine years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Adrian Izazaga-Martinez, 32, of Kent, Washington, was ordering 8-pound loads of methamphetamine. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District...

YAKIMA, Wash. – Chief U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian has sentenced Jesus B. Zavala-Alvarez, 28, of Kennewick, Washington, to 135 months in federal prison for his role in guarding a stash house, where the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized over 8 pounds of methamphetamine, 64 ounces of liquid methamphetamine and...

SPOKANE, Wash.–The United States Drug Enforcement Administration is launching Operation Engage in Spokane, Washington. Operation Engage Spokane is a comprehensive community-level approach to address the drug epidemic through prevention strategies, facilitating conversations and collaboration with local partners. The Seattle Field Division’s proposal was one of 11 approved for continued funding...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Following a three-week trial in U.S. District Court, a federal jury convicted an Anchorage man on charges of murder in furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise, using a firearm to commit murder in a drug trafficking crime, drug conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. According to court documents...

Seattle – 28-year-0ld Nicholas Partlow of Issaquah, Washington, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Partlow admits selling drugs on the darknet more than 400 times as part of a conspiracy with the operators of darknet marketplaces and...

BOISE, Idaho – A Gooding, Idaho, man was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court records, beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers received information that Ruben Robles-Ramos, 49, of Gooding, was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine in the Magic Valley. An...

POCATELLO, Idaho – A Twin Falls, Idaho, man was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court records, in September 2019, Cody J. Moore, 50, of Twin Falls, Idaho, traveled to Arizona with his co-conspirator, Brian...