Rico Deville Buice and David Estevan Montillo Diaz have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl following a law enforcement operation in Forest Park, Georgia. The two men appeared in federal court on November 19, 2025, after authorities executed a search warrant at a rental home where they found 21 kilograms of fentanyl, $380,000 in suspected drug proceeds, and a firearm.
“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, commented on the significance of the operation: “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 noted his department’s role: “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,” he said. “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.”
According to information presented by U.S. Attorney Hertzberg during court proceedings: On November 14, 2025, agents from FBI Atlanta and DEA Atlanta field offices worked alongside officers from Clayton County Police Department to execute a search warrant at a rental property in Forest Park. As law enforcement approached the house, Buice attempted to flee but was apprehended carrying approximately $4,000 cash.
Inside the residence—specifically within both kitchen and bedroom areas—law enforcement found an estimated 21 kilograms of fentanyl along with about $300,000 bundled cash stacks; also recovered were items such as a money counter machine used for processing currency quickly; food sealer equipment; plus one Glock 19 pistol firearm. An additional $80,000 was discovered inside what officials allege was Buice’s designer bag.
Buice (also known as Casino), age 41 from Atlanta; together with Diaz (age 23) from Coachella California remain held pending further legal proceedings.
Officials emphasized that criminal complaints only contain charges at this stage; both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial—a process where government prosecutors bear responsibility for establishing guilt or innocence under law standards set forth by courts nationwide.
If convicted under current charges—which fall under federal statutes related specifically toward distribution/possession intent involving controlled substances—the accused could face up-to-life imprisonment sentences (with mandatory minimum terms set at ten years).
The investigation involves cooperation between multiple agencies including Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), plus local partners such as Clayton County Police Department.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Thomas M Forsyth III & Calvin A Leipold III are prosecuting this case.
The prosecution forms part both Operation Take Back America—a national initiative aimed at combatting illegal immigration while targeting cartel/transnational crime—and ongoing work led by Homeland Security Task Force established through Executive Order 14159 Protecting American People Against Invasion framework designed strengthen interagency coordination against violent international criminal organizations operating domestically or abroad.
