. Twenty central Texas residents face federal drug trafficking and firearms charges stemming from five separate, but related, federal grand jury indictments unsealed today in Waco, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff; FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division; Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw; Temple Police Chief Shawn Reynolds; Killeen Police Chief Charles Kimble; and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux, Houston Division. Denison police make largest drug bust ever - kxii.com Posted on March 2, 2023 by Constitutional Nobody. According to records filed in the case, the investigation began in February 2020. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance with the arrests. Biggest bust: More than $500K in meth off Central Texas streets, Assistant district attorney from Williamson County suspended after DWI wreck in Hewitt, New non-profit coming to Bell County in fight against homelessness, Change was like night and day: Mother testifies in retrial of ex-Waco day care owner charged in childs overdose death, Impacts of four-day week on school support staff. Albert Lee, also known as "Mook," 32, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge. New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean. The Texas-Mexico border has been a hub for drug trafficking for years. Almost all of our crime is connected to drug trafficking, the Sheriff said during the news conference. Billion-Dollar California Drug Bust July 2021: The Details - LaJolla.com Approximately four kilograms of cocaine, roughly seven kilograms of methamphetamine and half a dozen firearms were seized during the investigation. Guthrie was arrested on Thursday, April 15, 2021. Several area residents charged in connection to alleged drug pipeline Kayli Marie Guthrie of Temple, 21, is named in an indictment charging possession of a firearm by a convicted felon that alleges she was in possession of a .45 caliber Colt handgun on May 21, 2020 after she was convicted on March 27, 2020 in Bell County of possession of a controlled substance and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Suite 115 It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Indictment #1 U.S. v. Gutierrez, et al. Posted: Jun 21, 2021 / 04:36 PM MDT. Today, law enforcement made additional arrests of the distribution network: Angelique Marie Easton, 51, Bremerton, WA, Douglas Bryan Healer, 47, Port Orchard, WA. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Jose Gutierrez, Crigger and Lewis were already in custody. Cocaine, Meth, & Firearm Drug Bust in Dallas. (KWTX) - Federal agents swept through Central Texas on Thursday and Friday and arrested 15 area residents named in sealed drug trafficking and firearms indictments, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a press release Friday. The 32 kilos of narcotics seized have a street value of $2 million, police said. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. bust in U.S. history, finding more than 5,528 pounds of the drug . In the home, law enforcement found five gallon-sized plastic bags filled with drugs, which were stashed in the master bedroom along with other smaller-sized plastic baggies of assorted colors. Federal, state and local officials held a news conference in Punxsutawney Tuesday to announce charges against several area residents allegedly connected . More than $45 million of methamphetamine has been seized in a drug bust in Texas. Performance & security by Cloudflare. The first indictment charges 16 Central Texans with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Seattle A series of arrests over the last ten days has disrupted a multi-state methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution ring. "They were like sausage links. Marshals returned to Brady on Tuesday morning in an attempt to stop the gigantic drug ring that is supplying narcotics across Texas according to sources with the federal court system. During this investigation authorities seized approximately four kilograms of cocaine, approximately seven kilograms of methamphetaine and a half a dozen firearms. This federal grand jury indictment charges the following defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, age 34 of San Juan; ECSO: Escambia County's Biggest Ever Marijuana Distributor Arrested The home was being used as a conversion lab where meth is turned into the raw, liquid form, making it more difficult for agents to detect. When drug overdose deaths are nine or fewer per year, the state does not . Im just proud of our officers and the work they put together with other agencies We want to make it as difficult as we can for them to get their dope.. The Mexican cartel's leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, is one of the most wanted drug lords, with the DEA offering a $10 million reward for his capture. Border agents reported a 1,066% increase in fentanyl seized in - CNN Mexican suppliers are especially responsible for most heroin and methamphetamine production, while cocaine is more often made in Colombia than transported to the U.S. via Mexican criminal organizations. Drug Seizure Statistics FY2023. Authorities arrested Oliphint yesterday. Frank Medina Jr, age 43 of Temple; One operation began with a street level narcotics seizure. 15 arrested in massive drug bust in west Georgia - FOX 5 Atlanta U.S. Its the largest, that Im aware of, methamphetamine bust, McNamara said during a press conference Monday. Todays successful operation should give members of the community a level of comfort in knowing these violent offenders, who live and walk among us, wont be putting their lives in danger any longer., These warrants represent the continued efforts of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) to ensure the safety of our communities, said IRS:CI acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes. Jose Gutierrez, Crigger and Lewis were already in custody prior to yesterday. US-Mexico border drug busts: Increasing number of Americans being Jose Francisco Gutierrez, age 33 of Killeen; The DEA said the amount seized in Dallas equated to 20 percent of all the meth found in 2020. Barton is accused of possessing at least 500 grams of methamphetamine on November 11, 2020. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Texas ranch of late oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens sells after $80M price cut, Severe weather outbreak produces hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, Cops quit woke Austin in droves, plunging city into crisis: If youre conservative, its a hostile place, High school star of Friday Night Lights fame arrested for allegedly choking ex-wife. Aleah Freitag, age 29 of Rockdale; of Public Safety. The amount of drugs seized was so large, a hazmat crew from the Houston Police Department were called in to assist.4, Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations conducted what they claimed to be the largest meth seizure in Houstons history. Liberty County meth bust could be biggest in county history - KHOU Tulare County Sheriff's Office via AP, File. Additionally, on August 17, 2021, law enforcement seized 22 pounds of methamphetamine that conspirators attempted to mail to Fiji. 1 of 3. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland . The separate but related investigations were conducted by the FBI, Temple Police Department, Killeen Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Division and Drug Enforcement Agency. In the biggest drug bust in Liberty Countys history, the DEA seized $1 million worth of methamphetamine in a home at County Road 2191 off FM 787. Traffic stop leads to major drug bust in Cibola County by: KRQE Staff. Drug Bust. This federal grand jury indictment charges 31-year-old Annie Rose Lewis of Temple with one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Its clear that Bidens open border policies are unleashing deadly consequences right here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Abbott told the room of reporters. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. This is the real deal, with big guns and a large amount of cash and ammunition seized. Because Texas is on the Mexican border, drug trafficking in the state is, unfortunately, very common. Anthony Gutierrez, Jose Gutierrez, Crigger, Gentile, Sutton and Warrick face between 10 years and life in federal prison upon conviction because the quantity level charged is at least 500 grams. The remaining defendants face between five years and 40 years in federal prison upon conviction because the quantity level charged is at least 50 grams. Anthony Gutierrez, Jose Gutierrez, Crigger, Gentile, Sutton and Warrick would each face 10 years to life in federal prison if convicted because the quantity level charged is at least 500 grams, authorities said. Denison police make largest drug bust ever. If convicted, Beck, Penaloza-Calderon, Neely, Hale, Peterson, Loza and Thomas could face from 10 years to life in federal prison based on the amount of methamphetamine involved. The Biden administrations undoing of former President Donald Trumps border policies has prompted a flood of Central American and Mexican illegal migrants at the US border, including thousands of unescorted children. Drug Trends in Texas 2021: A Report to the National Drug Early Warning System Jane Carlisle Maxwell, Ph.D., Research Professor Emeritus Highlights Texas has 254 counties and, as of 2020, a population of 28,995,881 with 42% White, 40% Hispanic, 12% Black, and 5% Asian. Alyssa who is the National Director of Digital Marketing, joined the Banyan team in 2016, bringing her five-plus years of experience. LIKE 25 NEWS KXXV ON FACEBOOK FOR THE LATEST CENTRAL TEXAS STORIES. Unfortunately, the impact of drug trafficking is reflected in the high rates of drug use in the U.S., specifically the opioid epidemic. More than 16 tons of cocaine worth up to $1B seized in massive bust in Updated: Jun 22, 2021 / 11:41 AM . Press Release. India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday December 21, 2022. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) . The DEA said more than 1,930 pounds of meth were found stuffed into 663 packages in a hidden compartment of an 18-wheeler off Interstate 35 in Denton County. On Wednesday, January 27, 20 packages containing 51.49 pounds of cocaine discovered were also found in a tractor manifesting a shipment of kitchen cabinets coming in from Mexico. It was recently . Newly sworn-in Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia is praising his Narcotics division and SWAT for a recent drug bust. DEA Takes Down Major Drug Ring in the Heart of Texas - San Angelo LIVE! Heroin is one of the many opioids that have contributed to the increasing rate of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. A total of 50 people were arrested following one of the largest drug busts in south Texas in recent years, according to Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of . February 27, 2023. Trisha Ann Sanchez, age 40 of Temple. Chavezs bond was set at $50,000 and and he bonded out on June 9, 2022. Deputies confiscate $1.3 million worth of heroin and other narcotics in major drug bust. The U.S. LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas There was a major methamphetamine bust in Liberty County overnight, and the sheriff's office there believes it might be the biggest one ever in the county's history . Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris will be prosecuting the cases. First published on November 11, 2021 / 11:37 AM. Major drug bust leads to arrest in Cibola County - KRQE The DEA has seized a record 20 million fentanyl pills nationwide this year, including more than 9.5 million in Arizona alone. Largest Texas Drug Busts in 2021. Published: Aug. 26, 2022 at 6:40 . Sign up below to receive 10% OFF your entire order! "As these three seizures illustrate, our frontline officers at World Trade Bridge continue to maintain their vigilance, supporting the CBP mission by disrupting the flow of illegal narcotics entering our borders," Acting Port Director Eugene Crawford, Laredo Port of Entry said in a statement. "But we also want to send a clear signal to the bad guys that we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder in this fight and we will continue to do that.". Homeland Security said the bust was part of a joint operation that included the DEA, ATF, Houston police and fire, Texas DPS and Harris County Pct. The six indictments, returned by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on August 24, 2021,were unsealed today (August 31, 2021). Washington, D.C. Man Convicted After Nine-Day Trial for Use of a Firearm in Connection with a Murder and a Robbery, and for a Drug Distribution Conspiracy. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. The objectives of this operation were to hold those accountable for the menace of illegal narcotics trafficking, and the violence associated with it, which has plagued our communities for far too long in the state of Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest, stated DEA Special Agent in Charge, Frank Tarentino. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In total, more than 1,930 pounds of meth stuffed into 663 packages were pulled from the vehicle. Drug ledgers were also found, which contained customer and payment information, in addition to 14 firearms, some of them loaded. NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) A variety of methamphetamine drugs, valued at some $16,000,000, was seized during several multi-agency North Texas drug busts over the last two months. Texas Sheriff Calls Methamphetamines A 'Clear And Present Danger' After The most recent tally shows they found 6,000 pounds of meth, increasing the street value to about $1 million. 25 kilograms of meth seized in Cloverleaf area, Texas DPS says. According to KNEL, on Apr. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Diggs and C. Andrew Colasurdo. If you know someone whos addicted to this drug, we offer heroin detox and addiction treatment at Banyan Treatment Centers Texas that can help. Otay Mesa CBP Officers Intercept Deadly Drugs Worth More Than $15 Million. Copyright 2021 KWTX. Bobby Quinton Gentile, age 43 of Holland; Central Texans among 21 arrested on federal drug trafficking - KXXV During the January 5 bust led by the DEA Amarillo office, more than 25 guns were also seized. Indictment #3 - U.S. v. Lori Oliphint. Press Releases | DEA.gov The 34-year-old singer was found dead in his bathtub in November 2022. Feds Make Another Huge Meth Bust in Brady Tuesday During the stop, a search of the vehicle was conducted. This drug organization trafficked two of the deadliest substances we are seeing in our community fentanyl and methamphetamine, said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. It happened this week at . During the investigation that led to the indictments, authorities seized about four kilograms of cocaine, seven kilograms of methamphetamine, and a half dozen firearms. 'Don't Mistake Kindness For Weakness,' Dallas Police Chief Praises To illustrate the impact of drug trafficking on the opioid epidemic and drug addiction in the U.S., were sharing the biggest drug busts in Texas this year. If convicted, Lewis faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Federal authorities arrested 21 individuals yesterday, including several Central Texans, on federal drug trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff, Drug Enforcement . If convicted, Oliphint faces up to 20 years in federal prison. 20 Central Texans indicted on federal drug trafficking, firearms - KXXV An official website of the United States government. Major drug operation nets 13 arrests, millions of dollars, dozens of The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Amid an 800 percent surge in seizures of fentanyl statewide due to porous borders, Texas will create a new criminal offense for the manufacture or delivery of the drug, the governor has announced. By KXII Staff. Eduardo A. Chvez, a special agent in charge of the DEAs Dallas office, said that the meth was smuggled across the border by traffickers working with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which is led by Nemesio Oseguera-Cervantes, who is nicknamed El Mencho.3. Federal agents arrest more than a dozen local residents named in drug trafficking and firearms indictments, Assistant district attorney from Williamson County suspended after DWI wreck in Hewitt, New non-profit coming to Bell County in fight against homelessness, Change was like night and day: Mother testifies in retrial of ex-Waco day care owner charged in childs overdose death, Impacts of four-day week on school support staff. The remaining defendants face between five years and 40 years in federal prison if convicted because the quantity level charged is at least 50 grams. Texas meth bust: $16 million in cartel drugs seized | wfaa.com 27 arrested in drug trafficking investigation in Leon and - WCTV "We still have more targets in our sights," Chavez said. Jose . The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said its Dallas division made the biggest methamphetamine seizure in North Texas history after finding the drugs in a hidden compartment of an 18-wheeler off Interstate 35 in Denton County. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The others were arrested over the past two days. Well, in addition to the people coming across the border, there is something else crossing the border. Let's put the drug bust into perspective. DEA Takes Down Major Drug Ring in the Heart of Texas. After the tractor was referred to a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, 43 packages containing 113.89 pounds of cocaine were found in the trailer. Officials are still not naming the people arrested in case this hinders future drug busts. In a recent drug bust in Texas, federal and local law enforcement recovered more than a . Texas criminalizes fentanyl amid drug surge from border crisis The GBI said they seized more than 38 kilograms of methamphetamine worth about $530,000, marijuana, illicit pharmaceuticals, 11 firearms, 34 vehicles bought with money from drug proceeds, and . "They were like sausage links.". "We take one of these seizures and try to expand the network, try to identify perhaps what other ones have gotten through.". If convicted, he faces between 10 years and life in federal prison. 54 Individuals Indicted for Roles in Distributing Heroin, Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine "Dangerous drugs have devastated too many communities throughout our state and claimed too many lives," said Attorney General James.. "As New Yorkers and Americans across the country witnessed the greatest number of drug overdose deaths in history in 2020, the defendants here were allegedly . The DEA has been contacted for further comment. The distribution of drugs like heroin, cocaine, meth, and fentanyl into the state is an ongoing problem, and it seems like authorities are constantly the biggest drug busts in Texas. It is between 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Cory Joe Barton, 35, of Gatesville was named in a separate indictment charging conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine that alleges he possessed at least 500 grams of meth on Nov. 11, 2020. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. They are buying a death sentence, Abbott said. Federal officials make meth bust - San Diego Union-Tribune This federal grand jury indictment charges 35-year-old Cory Joe Barton of Gatesville with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Authorities arrested Oliphint yesterday. Angela Loy, age 32 of Temple; Indictment #4 U.S. v. Kayli Marie Guthrie These arrests are a significant step for community safety.. The east lane of FM 2271 was closed for several hours, and authorities funneled traffic into the west lane of FM 2271 on both sides of the Lake Belton Dam. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. CBS News Texas: Free 24/7 News . Aaron Carter's mother has released graphic photos from the scene of his death as a ploy to motivate law enforcement to investigate the incident further. Packages containing 114 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at World Trade Bridge. The seizure took place on October 8, but the DEA is only now sharing the details. Authorities have seized nearly 200 pounds of drugs valued at more than $1.6 million following three separate searches at the Laredo Port of Entry in Texas. Various people working with law enforcement provided information regarding the drug distribution activities. "It's a staggering amount to be seized at one time," Eduardo Chavez, the special agent in charge for DEA Dallas, told local TV station WFAA. Both were charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony. Nhan Thanh Vo, 38, was charged with one federal count of . Unfortunately, methamphetamine is one of the largest threats in North Texas, so we would anticipate that a lot of it was destined for the market here.". Lewis is accused of possessing a .380 caliber pistol on December 21, 2021. The haul was so big that other agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Houston; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston; Harris County Constables Office Precinct 1; Harris County Constables Office Precinct 3; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Fire Department; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and the Houston Police Department participated in the operation.5.