recent drug bust in texas 2021

Guthrie is accused of being in possession of a Colt .45 caliber handgun on May 21, 2020. Young, unsuspecting Texans are buying drugs that are laced with fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration announced the largest methamphetamine bust in North Texas history last week: 1,900 pounds in big grey bricks stowed in the false . Lori Oliphint, 43, of Temple was named in an indictment charging possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of methamphetamine. LIKE 25 NEWS KXXV ON FACEBOOK FOR THE LATEST CENTRAL TEXAS STORIES. The 32 kilos of narcotics seized have a street value of $2 million, police said. 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 men are currently being held on $250,000 bonds each. Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, age 33 of Belton; ", Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. "One pill one time can kill," Oz said, noting that the US had . Greg Abbott said he planned to soon sign a bill that had passed the Texas Senate, as overdose cases on the synthetic opioid spike. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office has announced the largest marijuana grow and distribution operation ever busted in Escambia County. If convicted, Oliphint faces up to 20 years in federal prison. 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. Updated: Jan. 6, 2021 at 1:53 PM PST. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) A big drug bust on San Antonio's North side. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The DEA said the amount seized in Dallas equated to 20 percent of all the meth found in 2020. Drugs Worth Rs 1,500 Crore Destroyed In Delhi Over 8 Years, 154 Arrested. 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. Jose Gutierrez, Crigger and Lewis were already in custody prior to yesterday. The second indictment charges 35-year-old Cory Joe Barton of Gatesville with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. At the time, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said it was the second-largest bust ever, behind only a 5,000-pound bust in December 2019 in Laredo, Texas. Indictment #4 U.S. v. Kayli Marie Guthrie The alleged leaders of the drug distribution ring, Jose Maldonado-Ramirez, 33, and his fianc, Iris Amador-Garcia, 30, of Bellflower, California, were arrested October 28, 2021. Corporate Headquarters: Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris will be prosecuting the cases. 0:00. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Anthony Gutierrez, aka Cuzzo, age 34 of San Juan, Jose Francisco Gutierrez, age 33 of Killeen, Sarah Elizabeth Crigger, age 30 of Nolanville, Lesleigh Arianne Bittner, age 33 of Belton. 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. 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. 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. 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. Timothy Neal Nyquist, age 36 of Temple; and Thirteen people were arrested Thursday and more than $1 million were seized in a major drug bust that stretched from Athens to Atlanta. Carter's body was discovered by his housekeeper. 51.79.248.208 These smaller bags wouldve been used for drug distribution. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. OTAY MESA, Calif. - Clay pots, jicama, and furniture all had one thing in common for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Otay Mesa's cargo. Drug and alcohol addiction is a nationwide epidemic, please reach out if you or a loved one is suffering. Stimulant abuse involving cocaine and meth has also remained high. Authorities believe the drugs may have come from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG. Newly endangered milkweed could stop Texas border 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. Officials say after getting a search warrant some 393 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was found inside. The agencies within the TAG came together and worked together and were able to find these drugs and get them off the street so McLennan County did great here also working in conjunction with the TAG, and so were just thankful for the work that they did to remove these drugs from getting in childrens hands, or anybody elses hands., Sheriff McNamara said the estimated street value of the methamphetamine seized is in excess of $530,000. Eight additional firearms were seized at search locations in Washington and California. "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. 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 . 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 . "We take one of these seizures and try to expand the network, try to identify perhaps what other ones have gotten through.". In 2019, DEA fentanyl seizures reached a record high since 2015, with DEA record seizures totaling 3,138 kilograms of fentanyl and fentanyl-related compounds.1 As a result of the opioid epidemic, the use of heroin and fentanyl has significantly increased. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Defendant Healer engaged in an armed stand-off with law enforcement today. 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. "We still have more targets in our sights," Chavez said. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( The Texas-Mexico border has been a hub for drug trafficking for years. 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. Lock Showing 1 - 10 of 10953 results. Law enforcement officials say the drug investigations are ongoing. File photo showing packages of methamphetamine crystals. The 18-month investigation revealed the drug trafficking organization was also distributing drugs to locations in the Southeastern United States including Florida, Arkansas and Tennessee. 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. So glad to get that off the street.. 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 first indictment charges 16 Central Texans with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Authorities arrested Oliphint yesterday. 25 kilograms of meth seized in Cloverleaf area, Texas DPS says. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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. While meth and cocaine are central nervous system (CNS) stimulants that increase activity in the brain, opioids like heroin reduce nerve activity in the brain, producing a euphoric and calming high. 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. Screenshot from Bexar County Sheriff video. "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. Denison police make largest drug bust ever. Largest Texas Drug Busts in 2021. Chavezs bond was set at $50,000 and and he bonded out on June 9, 2022. This federal grand jury indictment charges 21-year-old Kayli Marie Guthrie of Temple with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. An official website of the United States government. "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.". Later that evening, officers encountered a daily express consignment truck hauling a shipment of vinyl samples arriving from Mexico. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. (Denison Police Dept.) 0:55. "They were like sausage links. A man named Hector Manuel Castro-Quirino, 47, and his girlfriend Vanesa Ann Cervantes, 38, were residents of the two-bedroom home. 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. The U.S. . "The Yellow Rose of Texas is safer today as we bring justice to those drug traffickers who want to poison our communities and profit from those who struggle with addiction. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. But then they got word it had started again. 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. While officials would not confirm how many people were arrested, they did say they believe the narcotics are from a cartel. The seizure took place on October 8, but the DEA is only now sharing the details. Chavez is charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance (penalty group 1) over 400 grams, a first-degree felony. 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. 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. To access the data used to build this dashboard, please visit the CBP Data Portal. Its the largest, that Im aware of, methamphetamine bust, McNamara said during a press conference Monday. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Four other conspirators were taken into custody last week including: Amado Pedro Castillo, 59, Brooklyn, New York, Fernando Alcides Lopez-Mendez, 37, Los Angeles, CA, Justino Cruz-Victorio, 34, Joshua Tree, CA. A second mate and a crew member have been arrested in the massive bust. SAN ANTONIO - Three people are in custody and are expected to face federal charges following a drug bust on the North Side, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. 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 . Authorities arrested Guthrie last night. The North Little Rock man appeared in federal court . The indictment alleges that on November 11, 2020, he possessed at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. (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. Attorney's Office . 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. The DEA has seized a record 20 million fentanyl pills nationwide this year, including more than 9.5 million in Arizona alone. However, when authorities showed up at the home in question, they found more than they were anticipating. The Waco Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) Unit has been around for a few years here in McLennan County, and since their existence theyve been constantly working to remove drugs out of the area and remove gang members, and make the city and the county a little bit safer, so this just part of the operation they did, said Sgt. February 27, 2023. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The fifth federal indictment charges 31-year-old Annie Rose Lewis of Temple with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Seattle A series of arrests over the last ten days has disrupted a multi-state methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution ring. An indictment should not be considered evidence of guilty. Hopefully, these idiots are going to get some tall sentences, McNamara said. 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. Lewis is accused of possessing a .380 caliber pistol on December 21, 2021. While the problem began to emerge in 2020, during which the states Department of Public Safety seized 11 pounds of fentanyl, it exploded in the first four months of 2021, Abbott explained. The alleged leaders of the drug distribution ring, Jose Maldonado-Ramirez, 33, and his fianc, Iris Amador-Garcia, 30, of Bellflower, California, were arrested October 28, 2021. According to records filed in the case, the investigation began in February 2020. 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 others face between five years and 40 years in federal prison if convicted because the quantity level charged is at least 50 grams. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris is prosecuting these cases. "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.". 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. 1 of 3. Indictment #1 U.S. v. Gutierrez, et al. 2021 / 8:48 AM / CBS Texas . "No doubt, this got his attention. Ryan Howard, spokesman for DPS. Angela Loy, age 32 of Temple; U.S. March 27, 2021 3:10 PM in News. Published: Aug. 26, 2022 at 6:40 . 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. If convicted, Oliphint faces up to 20 years in federal prison. (210) 384-7257 27, law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety, Brady . Cocaine, Meth, & Firearm Drug Bust in Dallas. The cause, the Republican governor said, is President Bidens border policies, which have caused a crisis for those in the region. "At this point, we want to not give up those opportunities because when we come, we'd like for it to be a surprise.". The drugs were coming up from California and were being distributed in King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Mason and Kitsap counties. All rights reserved. The haul was the largest meth bust in North Texas's history. Jose Gutierrez, Crigger and Lewis were already in custody prior to yesterday. ", Chavez added: "I see a lot of lives saved when we can stack up kilograms of drugs like this on a table. CBS News Texas: Free 24/7 News . Central Americans looking for refuge from the Northern Triangle countries Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have taken these policy moves, as well as the overwhelmingly more welcoming tone from Democrats, as a sign that Biden is inviting them to cross the border. 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. India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday December 21, 2022. If you know someone whos addicted to this drug, we offer heroin detox and addiction treatment at Banyan Treatment Centers Texas that can help. 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. The operation was conducted by members of the McLennan County Sheriffs Office Organized Crime Unit, the sheriffs offices SWAT, and the Waco Police Departments Drug Enforcement Unit, along with the Texas Dept. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Please enter valid email address to continue. BRADY, TX - U.S. The others were arrested over the past two days. The giant haul had been divided into 633 packages that were stashed in a hidden compartment, each of which would have been repackaged for distribution in Texas, Chicago, St. Louis, and Atlanta. All complaints and concerns are fully investigated by corporate compliance and corrective actions are implemented based on substantiated allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid. Jose Francisco Gutierrez, age 33 of Killeen; WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL) A traffic stop by Texas Department of Public Safety lead to a major drug seizure last week near Amarillo. 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). All the suspects were charged with drug crimes, with most in connection to a wide-scale trafficking ring in Leon and Gadsden counties. Below is a list of recent Texas drug busts that have seized record amounts of drugs. It was at that location where officials say they found more than 190 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine, and nearly 60 kilograms of crystal meth. 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 . Sheriff Javier . By Tamlyn Cochran. During a traffic stop involving a refrigerated tractor-trailer, law enforcement found 1,950 pounds of drugs (worth about $45 million), making it the biggest methamphetamine seizure in North Texas. This is a highly addictive drug that can lead to mental illness, increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and more. On Tuesday, January 26, CBP officers assigned to the cargo facility encountered a tractor hauling a shipment of toilet paper arriving from Mexico. The Dallas division of the DEA has made the largest methamphetamine seizure in North Texas. If convicted, he faces between 10 years and life in federal prison.