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, also known as Casino, 41, of Atlanta, and David Estevan Montillo Diaz, 23, of Coachella, California, were taken into custody after agents from the FBI Atlanta and DEA Atlanta field offices, along with officers from the Clayton County Police Department, executed a search warrant on November 14, 2025.
During the search of the rental property, authorities seized approximately 21 kilograms of fentanyl, more than $380,000 in suspected drug proceeds—including about $300,000 found in rubber-banded stacks—and a firearm. Law enforcement also discovered equipment such as a money counter and a food sealer machine at the scene. Buice attempted to flee but was apprehended with roughly $4,000 in cash on his person. Additional cash totaling around $80,000 was located in a designer bag allegedly belonging to Buice.
“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 from 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 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.”
Both defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial; it is up to prosecutors to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. If convicted on all counts related to conspiracy involving fentanyl distribution under federal statutes governing controlled substances offenses—offenses which carry strict sentencing guidelines—they could face life imprisonment with mandatory minimums set at ten years.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Clayton County Police Department. Prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth III and Calvin A. Leipold III.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative designed by federal authorities aiming at dismantling illegal immigration channels as well as eliminating transnational criminal organizations operating within U.S borders through combined interagency efforts.
The prosecution is also part of broader work conducted by Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), established under Executive Order 14159 Protecting American People Against Invasion—an order that brings together various government agencies focused on targeting organized crime groups engaged not only in narcotics trafficking but other activities such as human smuggling or child exploitation.
For additional information regarding this matter or related cases prosecuted within Northern District Georgia jurisdiction visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
