Lewis has a 2011 federal conviction for manufacturing counterfeit currency. "They were like sausage links. The DEA has been contacted for further comment. "They were like sausage links.". Hopefully, these idiots are going to get some tall sentences, McNamara said. Banyan Texas is a rehab center in Waelder that offers various levels of substance abuse treatment to help people who are suffering from drug addictions and want to recover their sobriety. These indictments are an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. 4 men arrested after DPS troopers announce fentanyl bust in NW Houston. And while they were at it, they grabbed 65 vehicles, nearly 200 animals, and close to . According to a release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Drug Enforcement Admiration arrested 13 people as part of Operation Hartbreak Kid, which was named after the man agents believe to be the lead defendant in the case, 27-year-old Derrick Hart. WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL) A traffic stop by Texas Department of Public Safety lead to a major drug seizure last week near Amarillo. The DEA and our partners are focused on the most dangerous criminals in Washington. She has produced a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. Officials are still not naming the people arrested in case this hinders future drug busts. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office has announced the largest marijuana grow and distribution operation ever busted in Escambia County. While officials would not confirm how many people were arrested, they did say they believe the narcotics are from a cartel. The DEA is offering a $10 million reward for the capture of the cartels leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho. In a recent drug bust in Texas, federal and local law enforcement recovered more than a kilogram of cocaine, half a kilogram of methamphetamine, 14 firearms, and nearly $1.6 million in cash during a drug bust in southeast Dallas, Texas. 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. 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. "We continue to seize these large amounts of drugs, and what we want our constituents to know and the good citizens of Tarrant County to know [is that] this is a clear and present danger to us until we continue this fight," said Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn. Aug 31, 2021 Updated Dec 7, 2021. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. This drug organization trafficked two of the deadliest substances we are seeing in our community fentanyl and methamphetamine, said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. "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.". U.S. "No doubt, this got his attention. Drug Bust. 0:00. Sheriff Javier . Trisha Ann Sanchez, age 40 of Temple. "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. Jose . The men are currently being held on $250,000 bonds each. A seizure like this, he most likely got a phone call," Chavez said. Timothy Neal Nyquist, age 36 of Temple; and In a recent drug bust in Texas, federal and local law enforcement recovered more than a . "[This] city-wide, cooperative law enforcement efforts to disrupt the methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking in our city was a tremendous success," Chavez said at the time. The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division (SFD) Tacoma Resident Office (TRO) and Bremerton Police Department (BPD), with assistance from Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement (TNET); the Seattle, Puyallup, Auburn, Federal Way, Kent, Bonney Lake, Tacoma, and Lakewood Police Departments; the Pierce County Sheriffs Office; Washington State Department of Corrections; Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET): Centralia and Chehalis Police Departments; Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET); and Washington State Patrol; Thurston Narcotics Team (TNT), Kitsap County Sheriffs Office, and Mason County Sheriffs Office; United States Postal Inspections Service (USPIS), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) with support from Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas ( HIDTA). There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. Press contact for the U.S. Attorneys Office is Communications Director Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov. This story has been shared 154,083 times. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. AUSTIN (KXAN) More than 20 people from in and around Austin were arrested Thursday on federal drug trafficking charges, according to the Department of Justice. During this investigation authorities seized approximately four kilograms of cocaine, approximately seven kilograms of methamphetaine and a half a dozen firearms. Albert Lee, also known as "Mook," 32, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge. Authorities believe the drugs may have come from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG. Liberty County officials were asked to assist in a search warrant led by the DEA out of Houston to seize what they estimated to be $500,000 worth. Posted on March 2, 2023 by Constitutional Nobody. BOSTON - Two members of a Cape Cod heroin trafficking ring have been sentenced to 10 years and nine years in prison for their roles in a violent kidnapping captured on video. 950 N Federal Highway Drug ledgers were also found, which contained customer and payment information, in addition to 14 firearms, some of them loaded. 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. AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Eleven alleged drug traffickers have been arrested and charged in Amarillo, announced U.S. attorney for the . Drugs Texas DEA Crime. 5:18 PM on Jun 11, 2021 CDT. Defendant Healer engaged in an armed stand-off with law enforcement today. File photo showing packages of methamphetamine crystals. This federal grand jury indictment charges 21-year-old Kayli Marie Guthrie of Temple with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The FBI, Temple Police Department, Killeen Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Division and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted this investigation. Updated: Jun 22, 2021 / 11:41 AM . Authorities arrested Oliphint yesterday. On Tuesday, January 26, CBP officers assigned to the cargo facility encountered a tractor hauling a shipment of toilet paper arriving from Mexico. According to this CBS News report, law enforcement officials busted the perps with nearly 375,000 marijuana plants, plus over 30,000 pounds of weed that was already harvested. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Guthrie was arrested on Thursday, April 15, 2021. 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. If convicted, Oliphint faces up to 20 years in federal prison. By Dave Huddleston, WSB-TV November 19, 2021 at 7:22 pm EST. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) . 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. Below is a list of recent Texas drug busts that have seized record amounts of drugs. They were arrested and charged with drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute. The bust . For overdose and related medical emergencies please dial 911. Investigators did not reveal the name or location of the business or say where the alleged meth lab was located. Thirteen of the defendants were arrested over the past two days. 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 . "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.". If convicted, Anthony Gutierrez, Jose Gutierrez, Crigger, Gentile, Sutton and Warrick face between 10 years and life in federal prison because the quantity level charged is at least 500 grams. DEA Takes Down Major Drug Ring in the Heart of Texas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP . This story has been shared 168,313 times. Young, unsuspecting Texans are buying drugs that are laced with fentanyl. Alyssa who is the National Director of Digital Marketing, joined the Banyan team in 2016, bringing her five-plus years of experience. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Wesley Warrick, age 50 of Cameron; 51.79.248.208 Another 44 pounds of meth were seized in a stop on April 2, 2021, and 83 pounds of methamphetamine and 20,000 fentanyl pills were seized in a traffic stop on September 28, 2021. 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. Read More. One operation began with a street level narcotics seizure. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired since January 2020 to distribute multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in Bell County and surrounding areas. In 2011, Lewis was convicted on federal charges of manufacturing counterfeit currency. February 27, 2023. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. A locked padlock Its the largest, that Im aware of, methamphetamine bust, McNamara said during a press conference Monday. Later that evening, officers encountered a daily express consignment truck hauling a shipment of vinyl samples arriving from Mexico. Law enforcement officials say the drug investigations are ongoing. SAN ANTONIO - Six people are in custody, two of which are being held in a federal facility, following a drug bust on the North Side, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. Drug Seizure Statistics FY2023. The drugs are estimated to have a street value of $397,120. Screenshot from Bexar County Sheriff video. The second operation began with the investigation of a stolen vehicle parked outside a business. Through strategic marketing campaign concepts, Alyssa has established Banyan as an industry leader and a national household name. We've received your submission. I dont remember this amount of meth being taken before, its a huge amount.. "I see a lot of lives saved when we can stack up kilograms of drugs like this on a table," Chavez said. Additionally, on August 17, 2021, law enforcement seized 22 pounds of methamphetamine that conspirators attempted to mail to Fiji. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Sign up below to receive 10% OFF your entire order! Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. Federal authorities arrested 21 individuals yesterday, including several Central Texans, on federal drug trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff, Drug Enforcement . All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 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. Drug and alcohol addiction is a nationwide epidemic, please reach out if you or a loved one is suffering. 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. "We take one of these seizures and try to expand the network, try to identify perhaps what other ones have gotten through.". The Dallas division of the DEA has made the largest methamphetamine seizure in North Texas. Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid. Law enforcement officers arrested Abel Chavez, Allen Roberts, and Marvin Keith on drug charges after the months-long operation resulted in the seizure of about 38.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 ounces of marijuana, nearly $18,000 in suspected drug proceeds, a Glock pistol, and an AR-15 style weapon, the sheriff said. 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. Law enforcement officers seized nearly 40 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 ounces of marijuana, nearly $18,000 in suspected drug proceeds, a Glock pistol and an AR-15 style weapon. Barton was already in custody when the indictment came down. Annie Rose Lewis of Temple, 31, was also named in an indictment charging one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm that alleges she possessed a .380 caliber pistol on Dec. 21, 2020 after she was convicted in 2011 in federal court of manufacturing counterfeit currency. But then they got word it had started again. According to Eastland County Today, Tuesday at 1:30 am - Eastland County Deputy Sheriff Colby Jackson made a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on Interstate 20. According to KNEL, on Apr. Members of the ring tried to trade drugs for firearms ones they could transport to Mexico contributing to terrible violence south of the border. The original bust took place on May 3, 2021. . Aware of some of the groups trafficking, law enforcement seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine in a traffic stop on May 16, 2020. bust in U.S. history, finding more than 5,528 pounds of the drug . Aleah Freitag, age 29 of Rockdale; The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Diggs and C. Andrew Colasurdo. The 2012 Freightliner tractor and shipment was also referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, where one package containing 17.85 pounds of methamphetamine worth an estimated $357,145 was found. Fifteen local residents --Jose Francisco Gutierrez, 33 of Killeen; Sarah Elizabeth Crigger, 30 of Nolanville; Bobby Quinton Gentile, 43 of Holland; Ashley Nicole Sutton, 31 of Belton; Wesley Warrick, 50 of Cameron; Carlos Avila, 38 of Buckholts; Joe David Beck, 50 of Temple; Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, 33 of Belton; Aleah Freitag, 29 of Rockdale; Kimberly Lee, 26 of Gatesville; Colton Lane Lewis, 30 of Temple; Angela Loy, 32 of Temple; Frank Medina, Jr, 43 of Temple; Timothy Neal Nyquist, 36 of Temple; and Trisha Ann Sanchez, 40 of Temple--are named in indictments alleging they conspired since January 2020 to distribute multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in Bell County and surrounding areas.. The group is accused of conspiring to distribute multiple kilograms of methamphetamine in Bell County and surrounding areas since January 2020. Jose Gutierrez, Crigger and Lewis were already in custody prior to yesterday. Twenty Central Texans are facing federal drug trafficking and firearms charges stemming from five separate, but related, federal grand jury indictments. In May 2021, authorities seized 1,789 pounds of meth in north Houston, as well as large quantities of other narcotics, during an investigation near North Shepherd and I-45 in north Houston. The others were arrested over the past two days. 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. Lewis is accused of possessing a .380 caliber pistol on December 21, 2021. We can help! All rights reserved. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Authorities arrested Guthrie last night. It is unseen to the general public, but importantly, this unseen thing coming across the border is deadly dangerous, Abbott explained, referring to the drug. 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. If you or a loved one are struggling with drugs or alcohol, call us now! Teams from the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and Dallas, Fort Worth, Mansfield and River Oaks police departments were a part of the joint operation. This undated photo provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows seized drug bundles containing 132 pounds of methamphetamine on display from Feb. 25, 2021, at the Laredo port of entry. Officials say after getting a search warrant some 393 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was found inside. All rights reserved. ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Unaccompanied minors, they surge the border, Border Patrol officers get fully occupied simply processing, the people coming across the border, he continued. This federal grand jury indictment charges 43-year-old Lori Oliphint of Temple with possession with intent to distribute under 50 grams of methamphetamine on August 19, 2020. Tulare County Sheriff's Office via AP, File. This federal grand jury indictment charges 35-year-old Cory Joe Barton of Gatesville with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, age 33 of Belton; Today's takedown marks the latest major drug bust in the OAG's Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (SURGE) Initiative, a law enforcement effort that brings together state and local law enforcement to target New York's growing and often violent heroin, opioid, and narcotics trafficking networks. It was recently . An official website of the United States government. That opens up large gaps of tens, or sometimes hundreds of miles, where the drug cartels have the ability to get fentanyl across the border.. "We still have more targets in our sights," Chavez said. FORT WORTH, Texas Tarrant County authorities have seized more than 1,400 pounds of liquid methamphetamine over the last five weeks, an estimated street value totaling $16 million, officials . 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. 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. The Texas-Mexico border has been a hub for drug trafficking for years. 2:00 AM on Feb 3, 2021 CST. The DEA has seized a record 20 million fentanyl pills nationwide this year, including more than 9.5 million in Arizona alone. 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. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Ashley Nicole Sutton, age 31 of Belton; Today, law enforcement made additional arrests of the distribution network: Angelique Marie Easton, 51, Bremerton, WA, Douglas Bryan Healer, 47, Port Orchard, WA. US Customs and Border Protection reported a 1,066% increase in the amount of fentanyl seized in fiscal year 2021 in south Texas, the agency said this week in a press release . If convicted, Barton faces btween 10 years and life in federal prison. That's more than 16 tons of chronic. By KXII Staff. Various people working with law enforcement provided information regarding the drug distribution activities. To access the data used to build this dashboard, please visit the CBP Data Portal. CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas Video above shows members of the Nueces County District Attorney's Criminal Interdiction unit looking for hidden drug cartel cash inside this vehicle. Agents at eight . The 32 kilos of narcotics seized have a street value of $2 million, police said. 3. Angela Loy, age 32 of Temple; LIKE 25 NEWS KXXV ON FACEBOOK FOR THE LATEST CENTRAL TEXAS STORIES. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. This is a highly addictive drug that can lead to mental illness, increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and more. Roberts and Keith are both accused of distributing drugs in the Bellmead area. The $1.6 million were found in cash stashed in tube socks, shoe boxes, and a large trash bag.2 This is one of the hundreds of cocaine and meth busts that demonstrate how serious drug trafficking is and the role it plays in drug use, addiction, and the increasing need for drug addiction treatment. Stimulant abuse involving cocaine and meth has also remained high. The third federal indictment charges 43-year-old Lori Oliphint of Temple with intent to distribute under 50 grams of methamphetamine on August 19, 2020. During a search of the residence where Iris Amador-Garcia was living with her brother and co-conspirator, Mario Amador-Garcia, 31, and co-conspirator, Bayron Eberto Garcia-Perez, 33, agents seized a kilogram of fentanyl or heroin, 80,000 pills of suspected fentanyl, and 2 firearms. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to stop the widespread harm these illicit substances cause our friends, families, and neighbors.. of Public Safety. Last week, it was revealed that the the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Dallas division had made a major drug bust in October, resulting in more than $45 million worth of methamphetamine being seized. The U.S. Attorney's Office said both amounts would be the largest seizures of either drug in the U.S. in both 2020 or 2021. . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The second indictment charges 35-year-old Cory Joe Barton of Gatesville with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Earlier this month, the DEA arrested 11 alleged traffickers in Amarillo, Texas, on suspicion of conspiring to deal hundreds of grams of meth and cocaine. In the fourth federal grand jury indictment, 21-year-old Kayli Marie Guthrie of Temple is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Federal, state and local officials held a news conference in Punxsutawney Tuesday to announce charges against several area residents allegedly connected . This federal grand jury indictment charges 43-year-old Lori Oliphint of Temple with possession with intent to distribute under 50 grams of methamphetamine on August 19, 2020.