Latest news with #DEA-led
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
With ICE agents going door-to-door in Colorado, residents are on edge: Reporter's notebook
A text from a source illuminated my bedside table at 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday. "Get ready," it said. Soon after, our team watched as dozens of agents from six different federal law enforcement agencies went door-to-door at a multi-building apartment complex in southeast Denver, displaying a significant change in the aggressiveness of our country's immigration enforcement. Since President Donald Trump took office again on Jan. 20, federal law enforcement, especially U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), have been tasked to increase their number of arrests to show that the new administration is making good on its promise to deport undocumented immigrants. When ABC News correspondent Mola Lenghi and I started chasing these operations last week in Colorado – learning about them ahead of time through a variety of sources, including tips from law enforcement directly involved in the actions – they were heavily focused on suspected undocumented immigrants accused of illegal drug and gun trafficking. We watched one DEA-led pre-dawn raid at a house in the Denver suburb of Brighton yield at least three people we were told were suspected Sinaloa Cartel members under investigation for fentanyl and gun trafficking. Just an hour after that raid began, agents walked out of the house with multiple bags and assault-style rifles as alleged evidence. Other operations at apartment complexes in Aurora and Denver appeared highly targeted against specific residences. Government spokespersons had a consistent message for the press during this surge of enforcement: They were targeting the most dangerous undocumented individuals. MORE: 'Border czar' Tom Homan threatens military action against Mexican cartels if necessary But when our team arrived on scene at an apartment complex in southeast Denver Wednesday morning after the early-morning tip, we saw a different scene than what we are being told in public statements from ICE, DEA and similar law enforcement agencies. We watched as dozens of federal agents went door-to-door, questioning residents at every apartment in the massive complex, asking for identification and if they had drugs or guns inside their unit. One woman gave me her video doorbell camera footage showing two agents, one of them wearing a vest that displayed Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) markings, knock on her door and ask if she had guns or drugs inside the house and if they could "come in and check." The woman answered no to each question before the agent said thank you and left for the next apartment. The resident told us the agents did not present a warrant or explain why they were there. Several residents with whom we spoke told us that the agents did not skip a single residence in the complex. A law enforcement source directly involved in the operation told ABC News that at least two warrants were served on units in the complex in connection with a drug trafficking investigation. The apartment complex had long been described in local news reports as a hot spot for illegal activity. MORE: 1st migrant flight at Guantanamo Bay arrives, carrying 'worst of the worst' What we witnessed, however, did not appear specific or targeted. This operation reflected a clear and dramatic shift in the posture of federal law enforcement toward people who, in the eyes of investigators, may be undocumented. We watched agents approach one young man in his car as he was leaving the parking lot. They questioned him for several minutes before ordering him out of the vehicle and detaining him in the back of an unmarked vehicle. Thousands gathered outside the Colorado State Capitol building on Wednesday afternoon to protest the door-to-door operation. Two teachers employed by Denver Public Schools told me they are having meetings and receiving documents to provide guidance about how to address the constant questions from students who are afraid and don't know if they're safe. There also is now a robust operation of activists and attorneys who arrive at these raids soon after the first reporters do to advise people of their rights regarding the sweeps, using megaphones to shout the information in both English and Spanish. One undocumented young man told me earlier this week that he's stopped going to work at a local moving company because of the threat of ICE arriving at his workplace and detaining him. MORE: Judge issues nationwide injunction blocking Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship A few hours after reporting on Wednesday morning's operation, our ABC News team was denied access to a press briefing from Tim Lenzen, acting special agent in charge of Denver's HSI office. Only three local television news stations were allowed in. No reason was given for ABC News being barred from the briefing. The previous days of immigration enforcement in Colorado specifically targeting only the most dangerous individuals seems to be fading. A life of fear at home, at work and at school for undocumented families is coming increasingly into focus, according to teachers and residents we have interviewed this week. As Trump's newly-appointed "border czar," Tom Homan, told ABC News "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz: "If you're in the country illegally, you're on the table." With ICE agents going door-to-door in Colorado, residents are on edge: Reporter's notebook originally appeared on
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
A Florida officer who pleaded guilty to stealing seized DEA drugs gets 17 years in prison
MIAMI (AP) — A Florida police officer has been sentenced to more than 17 years behind bars after pleading guilty to stealing drugs, cash and firearms from federal investigations and admitting that he once went so far as to swap cocaine seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with a fake kilo made from a 3D printer. James Hickox's sentence, handed down Monday in Jacksonville federal court, is the stiffest yet imposed against more than 20 DEA agents and task force officers charged in recent years with crimes ranging from perjury and assault to wire fraud and money laundering on behalf of the same drug cartels the DEA is charged with fighting. Hickox, a sergeant with the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, was arrested in 2023 along with Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Joshua Earrey on charges of possession with intent to sell drugs . Both had been assigned to a DEA-led task force in Jacksonville. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. As part of his plea agreement, Hickox admitted to receiving more than $420,000 for routinely stealing and selling marijuana, cocaine and other drugs seized as part of DEA operations and then falsely claiming the evidence had been destroyed following normal procedure. He also confessed that in 2022, he swapped a kilogram of cocaine seized by the DEA with a brick made from a 3D printer sprinkled with real cocaine to make it look legitimate. Hickox said he then gave the real cocaine to a Jacksonville drug trafficker who sold it for around $20,000. About half that amount was paid to Hickox. Hickox's father said the stress of his work for the DEA, dealing with criminal informants on a daily basis and being surrounded by large amounts of cash and drugs, contributed to his son's descent into criminality. He said the DEA needs to provide mental health counseling to properly vet its workforce and prevent other criminals from abusing the public's trust. 'They have to live two lives," his father, James Lee Hickox, told WJXT television in Jacksonville. 'You're out slinging dope for the DEA and then you go home and be a family man.' Hickox, 38, also said he gave around 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of marijuana to one informant, receiving about $200 to $400 for every pound sold. On another occasion, according to the plea agreement, he and Earrey staged a fake traffic stop to seize what they thought were 6 kilograms (13 pounds) of fentanyl arriving from another state. When authorities searched Hickox's house, they found cocaine, methamphetamine pills and a powdery substance containing fentanyl, as well as several firearms that had been seized during law enforcement operations. The narcotics were found in a converted garage labeled 'Gator's Man Cave.' Hickox, in his plea agreement, also admitted to routinely breaking into DEA evidence bags, stealing thousands of dollars in cash and then resealing the bags, or repacking the currency into another heat-sealed bag with forged signatures, to cover his tracks. "Law enforcement officers who operate as though they are above the law betray the badge and the citizens they swore to protect,' FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Kristin Rehler said in a statement. Attorneys representing Hickox did not respond to an email seeking comment. Earrey is scheduled to be sentenced in April.
The Independent
29-01-2025
- The Independent
A Florida officer who pleaded guilty to stealing seized DEA drugs gets 17 years in prison
A Florida police officer has been sentenced to more than 17 years behind bars after pleading guilty to stealing drugs, cash and firearms from federal investigations and admitting that he once went so far as to swap cocaine seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with a fake kilo made from a 3D printer. James Hickox's sentence, handed down Monday in Jacksonville federal court, is the stiffest yet imposed against more than 20 DEA agents and task force officers charged in recent years with crimes ranging from perjury and assault to wire fraud and money laundering on behalf of the same drug cartels the DEA is charged with fighting. Hickox, a sergeant with the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, was arrested in 2023 along with Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Joshua Earrey on charges of possession with intent to sell drugs . Both had been assigned to a DEA-led task force in Jacksonville. As part of his plea agreement, Hickox admitted to receiving more than $420,000 for routinely stealing and selling marijuana, cocaine and other drugs seized as part of DEA operations and then falsely claiming the evidence had been destroyed following normal procedure. He also confessed that in 2022, he swapped a kilogram of cocaine seized by the DEA with a brick made from a 3D printer sprinkled with real cocaine to make it look legitimate. Hickox said he then gave the real cocaine to a Jacksonville drug trafficker who sold it for around $20,000. About half that amount was paid to Hickox. Hickox's father said the stress of his work for the DEA, dealing with criminal informants on a daily basis and being surrounded by large amounts of cash and drugs, contributed to his son's descent into criminality. He said the DEA needs to provide mental health counseling to properly vet its workforce and prevent other criminals from abusing the public's trust. 'They have to live two lives," his father, James Lee Hickox, told WJXT television in Jacksonville. 'You're out slinging dope for the DEA and then you go home and be a family man.' Hickox, 38, also said he gave around 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of marijuana to one informant, receiving about $200 to $400 for every pound sold. On another occasion, according to the plea agreement, he and Earrey staged a fake traffic stop to seize what they thought were 6 kilograms (13 pounds) of fentanyl arriving from another state. When authorities searched Hickox's house, they found cocaine, methamphetamine pills and a powdery substance containing fentanyl, as well as several firearms that had been seized during law enforcement operations. The narcotics were found in a converted garage labeled 'Gator's Man Cave.' Hickox, in his plea agreement, also admitted to routinely breaking into DEA evidence bags, stealing thousands of dollars in cash and then resealing the bags, or repacking the currency into another heat-sealed bag with forged signatures, to cover his tracks. "Law enforcement officers who operate as though they are above the law betray the badge and the citizens they swore to protect,' FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Kristin Rehler said in a statement. Earrey is scheduled to be sentenced in April.
Associated Press
29-01-2025
- Associated Press
A Florida officer who pleaded guilty to stealing seized DEA drugs gets 17 years in prison
MIAMI (AP) — A Florida police officer has been sentenced to more than 17 years behind bars after pleading guilty to stealing drugs, cash and firearms from federal investigations and admitting that he once went so far as to swap cocaine seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with a fake kilo made from a 3D printer. James Hickox's sentence, handed down Monday in Jacksonville federal court, is the stiffest yet imposed against more than 20 DEA agents and task force officers charged in recent years with crimes ranging from perjury and assault to wire fraud and money laundering on behalf of the same drug cartels the DEA is charged with fighting. Hickox, a sergeant with the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, was arrested in 2023 along with Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Joshua Earrey on charges of possession with intent to sell drugs . Both had been assigned to a DEA-led task force in Jacksonville. As part of his plea agreement, Hickox admitted to receiving more than $420,000 for routinely stealing and selling marijuana, cocaine and other drugs seized as part of DEA operations and then falsely claiming the evidence had been destroyed following normal procedure. He also confessed that in 2022, he swapped a kilogram of cocaine seized by the DEA with a brick made from a 3D printer sprinkled with real cocaine to make it look legitimate. Hickox said he then gave the real cocaine to a Jacksonville drug trafficker who sold it for around $20,000. About half that amount was paid to Hickox. Hickox's father said the stress of his work for the DEA, dealing with criminal informants on a daily basis and being surrounded by large amounts of cash and drugs, contributed to his son's descent into criminality. He said the DEA needs to provide mental health counseling to properly vet its workforce and prevent other criminals from abusing the public's trust. 'They have to live two lives,' his father, James Lee Hickox, told WJXT television in Jacksonville. 'You're out slinging dope for the DEA and then you go home and be a family man.' Hickox, 38, also said he gave around 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of marijuana to one informant, receiving about $200 to $400 for every pound sold. On another occasion, according to the plea agreement, he and Earrey staged a fake traffic stop to seize what they thought were 6 kilograms (13 pounds) of fentanyl arriving from another state. When authorities searched Hickox's house, they found cocaine, methamphetamine pills and a powdery substance containing fentanyl, as well as several firearms that had been seized during law enforcement operations. The narcotics were found in a converted garage labeled 'Gator's Man Cave.' Hickox, in his plea agreement, also admitted to routinely breaking into DEA evidence bags, stealing thousands of dollars in cash and then resealing the bags, or repacking the currency into another heat-sealed bag with forged signatures, to cover his tracks. 'Law enforcement officers who operate as though they are above the law betray the badge and the citizens they swore to protect,' FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Kristin Rehler said in a statement.
