Two men have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl following a law enforcement operation in Forest Park, Georgia. Rico Deville Buice, 41, of Atlanta, and David Estevan Montillo Diaz, 23, of Coachella, California, appeared in federal court on November 19 after authorities seized approximately 21 kilograms of fentanyl, $380,000 in suspected drug proceeds, and a firearm from a rental home.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, agents from the FBI Atlanta and DEA Atlanta field offices, together with officers from the Clayton County Police Department, executed a search warrant at the property on November 14. As law enforcement approached the house, Buice attempted to flee but was apprehended with about $4,000 in cash. Inside the residence, officers found large quantities of fentanyl and cash along with equipment such as a money counter and food sealer machine. A Glock 19 pistol was also recovered.
“These arrests and seizures demonstrate the live-saving impact the Homeland Security Task Force has in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The collaborative effort of different law enforcement agencies united in the fight to eliminate transnational criminal organizations kept a staggering amount of deadly fentanyl from hitting our streets. The resulting charges send a strong message: fentanyl traffickers in our district may run, but they cannot hide. Instead, they will find themselves in federal custody, and their drugs and money seized.”
Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta stated: “This operation is an example of the power of the Task Force in disrupting deadly drug trafficking operations. The seizure of 21 kilograms of fentanyl and over $380,000 in drug proceeds is a direct hit to those who seek to poison our communities. The FBI, in partnership with our law enforcement colleagues, will relentlessly pursue these criminals and hold them accountable.”
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division added: “This seizure is a clear reminder of the devastation these criminal networks are willing to inflict on our communities for profit. Working as part of the Homeland Security Task Force, our agents are committed to stopping these dangerous organizations before their poison ever reaches our streets. This result reflects the power of our partnerships and our shared resolve to protect families from lethal narcotics and the violence that comes with them.”
Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts commented: “It is with great honor that the Clayton County Police Department partnered with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) during the execution of a search warrant in Forest Park, Georgia. Members of the Clayton County Police Department’s Narcotics Unit and CAGE Unit assisted in the operation. This significant seizure will undoubtedly save thousands of lives affected by this highly addictive opioid. The efforts of HSTF have made the streets of Clayton County safer by removing two suspected drug traffickers, disrupting a criminal network, and intercepting dangerous narcotics and illicit proceeds.”
Both defendants are currently being held pending further proceedings. Authorities emphasize that criminal complaints contain only charges; both individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
If convicted on all counts related to fentanyl distribution conspiracy charges—which carry significant mandatory minimum sentences—each defendant could face up to life imprisonment.
The investigation involves collaboration among several agencies including FBI Atlanta Field Office; DEA Atlanta Division; Homeland Security Investigations; ATF; CGIS; ICE-HSI; IRS-CI; DOL-OIG; DSS; USMS; USPIS; USSS; as well as prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth III and Calvin A Leipold III.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative utilizing Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration threats and transnational crime—and forms part of ongoing efforts under Executive Order 14159 through which interagency cooperation targets cartels operating within or affecting United States communities.
Further information about this case can be obtained through http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga or by contacting Public Affairs at (404) 581-6016.