Laura Kimble, senior drug chemist and forensic scientist with the Hamilton County CoronerÕs Crime Laboratory located in Blue Ash, shows some of the fake oxycodone, Thursday, March 24, 2022 that was seized in a large drug bust. Legally prescribed, the drug is used to relieve severe pain. It is an opioid analgesic. The fake pills contain fentanyl and acetaminophen. But though the drugs were confiscated in the same drug bust, theyÕre not all the same. Kimble said one pill tested with no actual drugs in it. She noted the discoloration and smudging of the letters. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid and is 100 times more potent than morphine. Covid Death Hit One Million
California – A wide-ranging federal drug investigation has led to charges against fourteen people accused of trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in Wisconsin, with law enforcement carrying out arrests and searches in both the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Central District of California. Thirteen of the fourteen suspects are now in custody, according to court records unsealed this week.
The case, built over the past year by federal and local law enforcement, alleges that the group operated as a coordinated drug trafficking ring, moving significant quantities of narcotics across state lines. Prosecutors say the operation involved not only the possession and sale of controlled substances, but also the use of phones and other communication tools to facilitate the distribution network.
The list of defendants includes a mix of U.S. citizens and Mexican nationals, with charges ranging from narcotics trafficking to illegal reentry into the country. Two of the men charged, Osmar Venejas-Mejia and Hector Rodriguez-Villalobos, had previously been deported from the U.S. but allegedly reentered the country illegally and became involved in the drug operation.
The potential consequences for those convicted are steep. Depending on the amount of drugs involved and each individual’s role in the conspiracy, sentences could range from decades to life in prison. The two defendants charged with illegal reentry could face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation drew on the resources of multiple federal, state, and local agencies, including the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Police departments from several Wisconsin cities participated in the arrests, along with the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and the IRS’s criminal investigations unit. Authorities also served search warrants in both Wisconsin and California as part of the coordinated takedown.
The case is part of a broader initiative known as Operation Take Back America—a recent push by the Department of Justice under the Trump administration to crack down on drug cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and illegal immigration. While the operation has drawn support from law enforcement, its political framing and rhetoric have sparked debate about the role of federal resources in local crime enforcement.
For now, the focus will be on the courtroom. The defendants face serious federal charges, and prosecutors will begin building their cases in the coming weeks. As always, those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
