Rico Deville Buice and David Estevan Montillo Diaz were arrested in Atlanta after a law enforcement task force seized 21 kilograms of fentanyl, over $380,000 in suspected drug proceeds, and a firearm from a rental home in Forest Park. The arrests followed the execution of a search warrant by agents from the FBI Atlanta and DEA Atlanta field offices, together with officers from the Clayton County Police Department.
“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, commented: “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 said: “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.”
According to information presented by U.S. Attorney Hertzberg at court proceedings on November 14, 2025, Rico Deville Buice attempted to flee as agents approached but was quickly apprehended carrying about $4,000 cash. After David Estevan Montillo Diaz exited the residence voluntarily, officers found large amounts of fentanyl inside along with cash stored throughout various locations within the house.
Buice (also known as Casino), age 41 from Atlanta; and Diaz, age 23 from Coachella, California; remain detained pending trial.
The defendants face charges that carry up to life imprisonment if convicted; there is also a mandatory minimum sentence set at ten years.
Officials reminded that both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Clayton County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth III and Calvin A. Leipold III are prosecuting this case.
The prosecution forms part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by federal authorities aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations responsible for violent crime across communities.
Additionally, this action falls under efforts directed by Executive Order 14159 through which federal agencies collaborate under initiatives like Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Atlanta—combining resources from several government bodies to investigate crimes involving narcotics trafficking among other offenses.
