District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Yolanda Gonzalez, 35, of Denver, Colo., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to a cocaine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Gonzalez was arrested in July 2015, after U.S. Border Patrol agents at the Border Patrol Checkpoint on I-25 north of Las Cruces, found approximately 2.72 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the car battery of Gonzalez’s vehicle during a routine inspection.  Gonzalez was subsequently indicted on Oct. 15, 2015, and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute on July 26, 2015, in Doña Ana County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Gonzalez pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on July 26, 2015, she drove her car to the Border Patrol checkpoint on I-25 where agents found 2.72 kilograms of cocaine hiding in her car.  Gonzalez further admitted that she intended to deliver the cocaine to someone else for distribution in the United States.

At sentencing, Gonzalez faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison followed by not less than four years of supervised release.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol and the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna R. Wright and Luis A. Martinez of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.

ALBUQUERQUE – Oscar Toro, 43, of Fremont, Calif., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction. 

Toro was charged in March 2014, on a criminal complaint alleging that he possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute on March 4, 2014, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  According to the complaint, Toro was arrested after law enforcement seized approximately 3.4 kilograms of methamphetamine from a hidden compartment underneath Toro’s vehicle. Toro was subsequently indicted on March 26, 2014, and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. 

On Oct. 20, 2015, Toro pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on March 4, 2014, law enforcement officers found 3,415 grams of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment in his vehicle.  Toro further admitted that he was given $1,000.00 to drive the methamphetamine from Calif. to Ky., and would later receive another $5,000.00.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo Armijo prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Oscar Casillas-Nunez, 39, of Orosi, Calif., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a cocaine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Casillas-Nunez and his co-defendant Gilbert Rosales, 43, of Dinuba, Calif., were arrested in Oct. 2013, on a criminal complaint charging them with conspiracy to distribute cocaine after DEA agents found approximately 4.6 kilograms of cocaine in their baggage during an interdiction investigation at the Amtrak Train Station in Albuquerque on Oct. 16, 2013.  Both men were indicted on Oct. 30, 2013, and charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Bernalillo County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Casillas-Nunez pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.  In entering his guilty plea, Casillas-Nunez admitted that on Oct. 16, 2013, he traveled through Albuquerque with cocaine that he intended to distribute to other people but was arrested by law enforcement agents before he could reach his final destination.

At sentencing, Casillas-Nunez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison followed by not less than three years of supervised release.  He will remain in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

Rosales previously pled guilty to the indictment on March 27, 2015, and admitted that on Oct. 16, 2013, he and Casillas-Nunez transported cocaine while traveling through Albuquerque on the Amtrak Train.  Rosales further admitted that when the pair arrived in Albuquerque, he left the train to avoid police.  Rosales further admitted that when police questioned Casillas-Nunez, he abandoned the bag containing the cocaine was in and did not return to the train.  Rosales was sentenced on Oct. 29, 2015, to 60 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec.

ALBUQUERQUE – A former New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and disbarred lawyer pleaded guilty today in federal court to defrauding the Social Security Administration (SSA) of more than $40,000.00 and an estate and its beneficiaries of almost $572,000.00.  Juanita Roibal-Bradley, 60, of Albuquerque, N.M., entered guilty pleas to one count of failing to disclose an event affecting the continued right to Social Security benefit payments and twelve counts of wire fraud.  Under the terms of her plea agreement, Roibal-Bradley will be sentenced to a prison term not to exceed 39 months and will be ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the court to the victims of her crimes.

The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, and Special Agent in Charge Robert Feldt of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General.

In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said, “To protect the public and its faith in our judicial system, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will vigorously prosecute officers of the court who abuse their positions of trust and take advantage of the public.”

“Criminals who prey on innocent victims and cheat a government program that helps retirees and the disabled deserve serious penalties.  When an offender is a former judge and attorney, law enforcement and prosecutors need to be even more aggressive to restore public confidence in our legal system,” said Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division.  “The FBI thanks the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General for its hard work on this case, and congratulates the U.S. Attorney’s Office on a successful prosecution.”

“The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General will vigorously investigate individuals committing fraud against Social Security programs.  This instant case represents cooperation amongst agencies to bring to justice those who take advantage of government programs and innocent victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Feldt of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General.

Roibal-Bradley was charged in a 23-count indictment on Sept. 10, 2015, with one count of defrauding the SSA, twelve counts of wire fraud and ten counts of money laundering.  According to the indictment, between Sept. 2007 and March 2011, Roibal-Bradley defrauded the SSA of more than $40,000.00 in disability benefits by failing to disclose that she was employed as a mediator and supervising attorney by the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration and thus not entitled to disability benefits.  Roibal-Bradley previously had served as an ALJ at the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration from 2003 to 2007.

The indictment’s wire fraud counts alleged that between March 2012 and June 2013, Roibal-Bradley devised and executed a scheme to defraud an estate and its beneficiaries of almost $571,948.98.  In furtherance of the scheme, Roibal-Bradley falsely represented herself to be an attorney authorized to practice law and agreed to provide legal services in administering an estate at a time when New Mexico Supreme Court had prohibited her from the private practice of law.  The Court subsequently disbarred Roibal-Bradley in March 2014.  As part of the scheme, Roibal-Bradley falsely promised to distribute the estate’s funds to its beneficiaries but instead transferred the funds into her personal bank account and used wire transfers to facilitate the transfer of funds.  The indictment alleges that, between April 2012 and Aug. 2012, Roibal-Bradley facilitated eleven wire transfers ranging in amounts of $5,000.00 to $389,503.33 from the estate’s bank account to her personal bank account.

The indictment also charged Roibal-Bradley with laundering the proceeds she derived from her wire fraud activity by transferring those assets to others, including members of her family.  The indictment alleges that Roibal-Bradley facilitated eleven transfers of proceeds from her wire fraud activities ranging in amounts of $12,000.00 to 131,492.77 between May 2012 and July 2012.

During today’s change of plea hearing, Roibal-Bradley pleaded guilty to defrauding the SSA and to the twelve wire fraud charges.  In her plea agreement, Roibal-Bradley admitted she applied for SSA disability benefit payments in Sept. 2011, and claimed that she had a disability that prevented her from working.  The SSA continued to pay Roibal-Bradley disability benefits between March 2008 and March 2011, even though she was working full-time as a mediator and supervising attorney for the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration.  In entering her guilty plea, Roibal-Bradley admitted that she failed to notify the SSA that she was capable of full-time gainful employment.

Roibal-Bradley’s plea agreement also details the scheme by which she defrauded an estate and its heirs of almost $572,000.00.  In the plea agreement, Roibal-Bradley admitted that she did not tell the administrator of the estate that she was prohibited from engaging in the private practice of law.  She also admitted fraudulently transferring $571,948.98 from the estate’s bank accounts into her own bank account between April 2012 and Aug. 2012.

Roibal-Bradley continues to be released on conditions of release and pretrial supervision pending her sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General based on a referral from the Disciplinary Board of the New Mexico Supreme Court.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Holland S. Kastrin and Kristopher N. Houghton are prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Cody Martinez, 29, of Raton, N.M., who is charged with assaulting a federal employee, was ordered detained pending trial during a hearing earlier today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M.  The federal charge against Martinez and the order of detention was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, 8th Judicial District Attorney Donald Gallegos, and Inspector in Charge Keith Fixel of the Phoenix Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Cody Martinez was arrested on Jan. 29, 2016, on the federal criminal complaint for allegedly assaulting a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier on Jan. 20, 2016.  According to the criminal complaint, Martinez allegedly struck the victim in the back of the head with a brick while the victim was delivering mail in Colfax County, N.M., on Jan. 20, 2016.  Martinez was apprehended shortly thereafter as he allegedly attempted to flee from law enforcement officers.  The victim allegedly sustained serious injuries as a result of the assault.

Martinez was arrested on Jan. 20, 2016 on local charges filed by the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  Those charges were dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.

 If convicted on the federal assault charge, Martinez faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.  Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Raton Police Department, with assistance from the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano Torrez is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Graciela Meraz, 39, of Chula Vista, Calif., was sentenced this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 60 months in prison for her conviction on heroin and methamphetamine trafficking charges.  She will be on supervised release for four years after completing her prison sentence.

Meraz was arrested on Feb. 4, 2015, and was charged in a criminal complaint with possession of heroin and methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  According to the complaint, Meraz was arrested by the DEA at the Greyhound Bus Station in Albuquerque after a consensual search of her baggage revealed that she was carrying more than a kilogram of heroin and more than four kilograms of methamphetamine.  Meraz was subsequently indicted on those same charges on Feb. 25, 2015.

On July 22, 2015, Meraz pled guilty to a two-count felony information charging her with possession of methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute.  In entering her guilty plea, Meraz admitted that when she was arrested by the DEA on Feb. 4, 2015, she was transporting approximately 9.24 pounds of methamphetamine and 2.53 pounds of heroin from Los Angeles, Calif. to Oklahoma City, Okla.  Meraz acknowledged that she was being paid to transport the drugs.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

This case is being prosecuted pursuant to the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.  The HOPE Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is partnering with the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative with the overriding goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  The law enforcement component of the HOPE Initiative is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – Charlie Ray Turnbow, 40, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced this morning in federal court to eleven months of imprisonment followed by one year of supervised release for his conviction for assaulting federal officers.

Turnbow was arrested in Aug. 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting two officers of the Federal Protective Service of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Aug. 6, 2015, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  The assault occurred in Albuquerque outside of the offices of the Social Security Administration located at 500 Lead Avenue SW when Turnbow shot at the two officers with an airsoft weapon.  The officers were not injured.

On Oct. 7, 2015, Turnbow pled guilty to a misdemeanor information charging him with assaulting federal officers with an airsoft revolver.

This case was investigated by the Federal Protective Service of the U.S. Department of Homeland and the FBI’s Albuquerque Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Cordelia Louisa Espinosa, 52, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced in federal court today to 36 months in prison for conspiracy and distribution of at least 50 grams of methamphetamine. 

            According to court documents, Espinosa participated in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy from the beginning of April 2015 to February 9, 2017.  As part of the conspiracy, she participated in a drug transaction in Albuquerque on December 7, 2016.  Espinosa gave a gift bag containing approximately 553 grams of methamphetamine to another drug trafficker, who then gave the bag to an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a drug purchaser.  On February 9, 2017, Espinosa participated further in the conspiracy by coordinating a drug transaction by telephone involving more than 14 kilograms of methamphetamine. 

            The indictment against Espinosa also charged three co-defendants.  On January 3, 2019, Hector Hugo Magana, 35, of Redwood City, California, received a sentence of 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. 

              On July 3, 2018, Efrain Espinoza-Pena, 45, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, distribution of at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine.    On September 13, 2018, Edgar Madrid-Rascon, 33, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Both of these co-defendants are awaiting sentencing.

            The Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Mexico State Police, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul J. Mysliwiec and David Cowen prosecuted the case. 

ALBUQUERQUE – Bufred Denetclaw, 53, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Sheep Springs, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a voluntary manslaughter charge.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Denetclaw will be sentenced to 100 months in federal prison.

Denetclaw was arrested on June 23, 2014, on a criminal complaint charging him with killing a Navajo man on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, N.M., on June 21, 2014.  The crime occurred during an alcohol-infused argument between Denetclaw and the victim.  Denetclaw was subsequently indicted on June 24, 2015. 

During today’s proceedings, Denetclaw pled guilty to a felony information charging him with voluntary manslaughter.  In entering his guilty plea, Denetclaw admitted that on June 21, 2014, while acting in the heat of passion, he killed the victim by stabbing him in the back three times. 

This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elaine Y. Ramirez and Raquel Ruiz-Velez. 

ALBUQUERQUE – Jay Barton, 48, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Buffalo Springs, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a voluntary manslaughter charge.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Barton will be sentenced within the range of 78 to 97 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Barton was arrested on Aug. 26, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging with killing a Navajo man on the Navajo Indian Reservation in McKinley County, N.M., on Aug. 21, 2015.  The crime occurred during an argument between Barton and the victim while Barton and the victim were drinking alcoholic beverages.  Barton was subsequently indicted on a voluntary manslaughter charge on Sept. 22, 2015.

During today’s proceedings, Barton pled guilty to the indictment charging him with voluntary manslaughter.  In entering the guilty plea, Barton admitted killing the victim by stabbing him in the chest, abdomen and back during an argument that became physical.  According to the plea agreement, both Barton and the victim were intoxicated when Barton committed the crime.

Barton remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez.

ALBUQUERQUE – Trevor Hunt, 22, of Paguate, N.M., a former detention officer with the Pueblo of Laguna’s Detention Facility (LPDF), pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., on charges related to the sexual abuse of an inmate during the summer of 2015.  Specifically, Hunt pled guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a ward and one count of violating the civil rights of the victim, who was an inmate under Hunt’s supervision at the time Hunt committed the crimes. 

In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said, “Sexual assaults by corrections officers on those they are charged with keeping safe gravely undermine the very foundation of our judicial system.  The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute these crimes and work to vindicate the rights of the courageous victims who report them.”

“Correction Officers fill important and challenging roles in the criminal justice system. While the majority perform their duties honorably, those who abuse their authority deserve to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division.  “The FBI is proud to have worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Police Department on this case.”

“The Pueblo of Laguna and its Public Safety Department do not condone Hunt’s conduct as demonstrated by the immediate judicial and administrative action taken by the Pueblo upon learning about this unfortunate incident.  Inmates of the Laguna Pueblo Detention Facility and other detention facilities deserve to feel safe and secure while incarcerated” said Director Jesse Orozco of the Pueblo of Laguna Public Safety Department.  “I am proud of the fine work done by the Laguna Pueblo law enforcement officers on this case, and would like to express my gratitude for the assistance of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.”

According to the plea agreement, on May 23, 2015, Hunt was a corrections officer at the LPDF who supervised both male and female inmates.  On that day, Hunt accompanied the victim to the LPDF’s laundry room where he sexually assaulted the victim.  During today’s change of plea hearing, Hunt acknowledged that the victim was in official detention and under his custodial and supervisory control when he sexually assaulted her.  Hunt also admitted that he was aware that he willfully violated the victim’s constitutional rights when he assaulted her.

Hunt was ordered to surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service on Feb. 1, 2016, and will be detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Adams and Holland S. Kastrin.

This case was brought as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna.  The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native American women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both.  The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.

ALBUQUERQUE – Floyd Albert Sherrell, 33, of Artesia, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Sherrell was arrested on Sept. 1, 2015, on an indictment charging him with unlawfully possessing firearms on June 10, 2014, and distributing methamphetamine on June 12, 2014.  Both offenses took place in Eddy County, N.M.  At the time, Sherrell was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of larceny of a firearm and burglary.  The indictment also included forfeiture allegations requiring Sherrell to forfeit $1,300.00 to the United States. 

During today’s hearing, Sherrell pled guilty to a felony information charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and distribution of methamphetamine.  In entering his guilty plea, Sherrell admitted that on June 10, 2014, he sold four firearms to an undercover law enforcement agent, and on June 12, 2014, he sold 25 grams of pure methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent.

At sentencing, Sherrell faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison followed by not less than three years of supervised release.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office. 

The Pecos Valley Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department and Artesia Police Department and is part of the HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force.  The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.  HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.

ALBUQUERQUE – Robert J. Lambe, 37, of Las Cruces, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court to methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Lambe was arrested on Oct. 15, 2014, on an indictment charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime on June 8, 2014, in Doña Ana County, N.M.  The indictment was subsequently superseded on Feb. 18, 2015.

During today’s proceedings, Lambe pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a person addicted to controlled substances.  In entering the guilty plea, Lambe admitted that on June 8, 2014, he possessed 25 grams of pure methamphetamine and a handgun.  Lambe further admitted that at the time, he was an unlawful drug user and was addicted to a controlled substance and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

At sentencing, Lambe faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison followed by not less than three years of supervised release.  Lambe remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the Las Cruces Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office. 

ALBUQUERQUE – Jesse Antillon, Jr., 29, of Las Cruces, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating the federal firearms laws.  The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, and Chief Jaime Montoya of the Las Cruces Police Department.

Antillon was charged in a criminal complaint on July 13, 2014, with unlawfully possessing a firearm on Nov. 6, 2013, in Doña Ana County, N.M.  According to the complaint, Antillon was stopped by law enforcement on Nov. 6, 2013, based on an outstanding probation violation warrant, and was found to be in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Antillon was subsequently indicted on the same charge on March 24, 2015.  Antillon was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he had previously been convicted of numerous felony offenses, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, child abuse, aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon, possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, attempt to escape from a peace officer and battery upon a peace officer. 

On Sept. 11, 2015, Antillon pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of a stolen firearm.  In entering his guilty plea, Antillon admitted that on Nov. 6, 2013, he entered a vehicle and stole a handgun.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the Las Cruces Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy M. Castellano of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.

The case is being prosecuted as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.  Because New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Doña Ana County, under this initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – Suzanne Marie Villa, 36, of Carlsbad, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to a methamphetamine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Villa was arrested on Aug. 25, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging her with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on June 12, 2015, in Eddy County, N.M.  According to the criminal complaint, Villa was arrested after Pecos Valley Drug Task Force agents notified U.S. Border Patrol Agents at the Border Patrol Checkpoint on Highway 62/180 near El Paso, Texas, to be on the lookout for her vehicle based on investigation indicating that Villa would be transporting drugs to Carlsbad.  The U.S. Border Patrol later seized 25.7 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia from Villa’s vehicle during a checkpoint inspection.  Villa was subsequently indicted on Nov. 19, 2015, and charged with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute on June 12, 2015, in Eddy County.

During today’s proceedings, Villa pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on June 12, 2015, she was stopped by law enforcement officers and found to be in possession of 25.7 grams of methamphetamine together with other items associated with methamphetamine trafficking including a scale, plastic bags, a glass smoking pipe and $820.00 in cash.

At sentencing, Villa faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison followed by not less than three years of supervised release.  Villa remains detained pending her sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Selesia Lee Winston of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.

ALBUQUERQUE – Edwin C. Johnson, 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Crownpoint, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assault charges.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Johnson will be sentenced to a prison term within the range of 108-120 months followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Johnson was arrested on Dec. 9, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon.  According to the complaint, Johnson assaulted his girlfriend, a San Carlos Apache woman, with an ax on Dec. 7, 2015.  The victim suffered a gash about four centimeters long and bloody discharge from both ears; she also experienced cranial pressure and swelling.  Because the victim’s injuries were life threatening, she was flown by helicopter to the trauma hospital at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque.

Johnson was subsequently indicted on Dec. 17, 2015. Johnson is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, an ax, with intent to do bodily harm, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and attempt to commit murder.  The indictment alleged that Johnson committed the crime on Dec. 7, 2015, in Indian Country in McKinley County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Johnson pled guilty to all three charges.  Johnson remains in custody pending sentencing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Adams.

This case was brought as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna.  The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native American women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both.  The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.

ALBUQUERQUE – Vanessa Guadalupe Munoz-Mungaray, 25, of Tuscon, Ariz., pleaded guilty today to a heroin trafficking charge in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Munoz-Mungaray was arrested on a criminal complaint charging her with a heroin trafficking offense after the DEA seized approximately 3.55 kilograms (7.37 pounds) of heroin from her during an interdiction investigation at the Greyhound Bus Station in Albuquerque on July 21, 2015.  The heroin was contained in eight bundles that were concealed in false compartments inside Munoz-Mungaray’s luggage.  Munoz-Mungaray was subsequently indicted on Aug. 11, 2015, and charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. 

During today’s proceedings, Munoz-Mungaray pled guilty to possession of heroin with intent to distribute and admitted that on July 21, 2015, she possessed 2.99 net kilograms of heroin, which were wrapped in bundles and concealed in false compartments in her luggage while traveling through Albuquerque on the Greyhound Bus.  Munoz-Mungaray further admitted that she was paid to transport the narcotics to New York.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley.

This case is being prosecuted pursuant to the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.  The HOPE Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is partnering with the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative with the overriding goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  The law enforcement component of the HOPE Initiative is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – James Sparks, 37, of Los Lunas, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a methamphetamine trafficking charge.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Sparks will be sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, 13th Judicial District Attorney Lemuel Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA’s El Paso Division and Valencia County Sheriff Louis Burkhard.

Sparks was charged in an indictment on Nov. 5, 2015, with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on June 16, 2014, in Valencia County, N.M.  Sparks was arrested on Nov. 10, 2015, after he was transferred to federal custody from state custody where he was being held on related state charges which were later dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.

During today’s proceedings, Sparks pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on June 16, 2014, Valencia County Sheriff’s deputies stopped him for speeding on his motorcycle. Sparks admitted that he attempted to run from deputies when they discovered that Sparks was in possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, but was eventually apprehended and arrested by the deputies.

Sparks remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo R. Armijo is prosecuting the case. 

The case is being prosecuted as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.  Because New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Valencia County, under this initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury sitting in Albuquerque, N.M., returned a verdict late this afternoon finding an Albuquerque couple guilty on wire fraud charges after a seven-day trial.  Matthew Channon, 38, and his wife Brandi Channon, 35, were convicted on a conspiracy charge and six wire fraud charges arising out of a sophisticated scheme to defraud an office supply business out of more than $100,000.

In announcing the jury’s guilty verdict, U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said, “These individuals stole money and property, using computers and e-mail as tools of their trade.  This conviction shows the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to the investigation and prosecution of theft, whether electronic or at the point of a gun.”

“Criminals who cheat companies wind up costing hard-working families more at the cash register,” said Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division.  “I am proud of the FBI Special Agents and support staff who investigated this case, and I congratulate the U.S. Attorney’s Office for a successful prosecution.”

The indictment charged the Channons with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Matthew Channon with four counts of wire fraud, and Brandi Channon with two counts of wire fraud.  The indictment alleged that the Channons perpetuated a scheme to defraud OfficeMax by using interstate wire communications to create numerous MaxPerk Rewards accounts in fictitious names to avoid OfficeMax’s policy of issuing only one account per person.  The Channons then used the accounts to fraudulently claim rewards from OfficeMax to which they were not entitled.  According to the indictment, the scheme continued from Aug. 2009 through June 2011, during which time the Channons fraudulently obtained MaxPerk Rewards certificates valued at more than $105,000.00.

Trial of the Channons commenced on Jan. 13, 2016, and concluded late this afternoon when the jury returned a guilty verdict on all seven counts of the indictment.  The evidence at trial established that the Channons conspired to defraud OfficeMax by fraudulently creating more than 5000 MaxPerk Rewards accounts in the names of fictitious people.  The couple went online and used the fraudulent accounts to falsely claim rewards-program credit for purchases that other customers had in fact made. The Channons falsely claimed that they engaged in more than 60,000 transactions with OfficeMax involving almost $2,000,000.00 worth of purchases, in over 300 stores located in over 20 states.  As a result of their fraudulent conduct, the Channons defrauded OfficeMax of more than $100,000 worth of property.   

At sentencing, the Channons face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.  Their sentencing hearings have yet to be scheduled.

The case was investigated by the Albuquerque Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret M. Vierbuchen, Holland S. Kastrin and C. Paige Messec.

ALBUQUERQUE – Earlier today a federal magistrate judge found that there was probable cause to support a criminal complaint charging Sergio Marin Ambriz, 20, of Phoenix, Ariz., with violating the federal narcotics trafficking laws.  Ambriz was released to a half-way house under conditions of release and pretrial supervision pending trial.

Ambriz was arrested on Jan. 20, 2016, and was charged in criminal complaint with a heroin trafficking offense after the DEA seized approximately 1.90 kilograms (4.18 pounds) of heroin from him during an interdiction investigation at the Greyhound Bus Station in Albuquerque.  The heroin was contained in three bundles that were concealed inside a pair of jeans in Ambriz’s luggage.

If convicted of the offense against him, Ambriz faces a statutory mandatory minimum of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison.  The charges against Ambriz are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers.

This case is being prosecuted pursuant to the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.  The HOPE Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is partnering with the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative with the overriding goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  The law enforcement component of the HOPE Initiative is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – Kevin Romero, 34, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court to methamphetamine and heroin trafficking charges under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Romero and his co-defendant Phillip Barrios, 37, also of Albuquerque, were arrested in Jan. 2015, on a criminal complaint charging them with possession of heroin and methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  According to the complaint, Romero and Barrios attempted to sell approximately 64 grams of methamphetamine and 200 grams of heroin to undercover law enforcement agents on Jan. 28, 2015, in Bernalillo County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Romero pled guilty to a felony information charging him with distribution of methamphetamine and heroin.  In entering his guilty plea, Romero admitted that on Jan. 28, 2015, he provided methamphetamine and heroin to Barrios with the knowledge that Barrios intended to distribute to other individuals who unbeknownst to them, were undercover New Mexico State Police officers.  Romero admitted that he and Barrios sold 59.62 grams of actual methamphetamine and 237.7 grams of heroin to the undercover officers. 

At sentencing, Romero faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison followed by not less than three years of supervised release.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

Barrios previously pled guilty and was sentenced on Aug. 19, 2015.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations and the New Mexico State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana B. Long.

This case is being prosecuted pursuant to the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.  The HOPE Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is partnering with the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative with the overriding goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  The law enforcement component of the HOPE Initiative is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – Steve Casaus, 43, of Albuquerque, N.M., was arraigned this morning in federal court on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Casaus entered a not guilty plea and was ordered detained pending trial.

Casaus was charged in a criminal complaint on April 25, 2014, with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition on April 21, 2014, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  According to the criminal complaint, Casaus was arrested after Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers after they observed what they believed to be a drug deal, and based on an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear on a pending state court case.  At the time of his arrest, Casaus allegedly was possession of $20,790.00 in cash, 1.3 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm with six rounds of ammunition in it. 

Casaus was subsequently indicted on June 11, 2014, and charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition on April 21, 2014, in Bernalillo County.  Casaus was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior felony convictions of disarming a peace officer, aggravated battery on a peace officer, trafficking by possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.

The federal prosecution of Casaus was stayed during the pendency of unrelated state court proceedings.  Casaus was arrested on the federal charge earlier today after he was transferred into federal custody from state custody.

 If convicted of the offense against him, Casaus faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.  The charges against Casaus are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations and APD.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh is prosecuting the case.

The case is being prosecuted as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.  Because New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Bernalillo County, under this initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – Juan Carlos Navarrete, 36, of Roswell, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M.,  to 84 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating the federal narcotics trafficking laws.

Navarrete was arrested on June 17, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with distributing methamphetamine in Chaves County, N.M.  According to the complaint, Navarrete sold approximately two ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential source working with law enforcement on Aug. 19, 2014, and approximately eight ounces of methamphetamine to the same confidential source on Sept. 11, 2014. 

On Aug. 17, 2015, Navarrete pled guilty to a felony information charging him with distributing methamphetamine and admitted that on Sept. 11, 2014, he sold approximately eight ounces of methamphetamine to an individual who, unbeknownst to him, was working with law enforcement. 

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and the HIDTA Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Terri J. Abernathy prosecuted the case.

The HIDTA Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Roswell Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and the Chaves County Sherriff’s Office.  The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.  HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.

ALBUQUERQUE – Gregory Secatero, 32, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court to assault charges under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Secatero was arrested on Feb. 12, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and child abuse in Indian Country.  Court documents indicate that on Jan. 17, 2015, Secatero was involved in a car crash that seriously injured two passengers, a female and a child, in Secatero’s vehicle.  Both victims were ejected from the vehicle; the female suffered a punctured left lung and seven left rib fractures and the child suffered a small subdural hematoma and left femur spiral fracture.  Two other children were in the vehicle, but were not seriously injured.  Secatero was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Secatero was subsequently indicted on March 10, 2015, and charged with two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of child abuse for endangering the lives of three children.  According to the indictment, Secatero committed the crimes in Indian Country in Bernalillo County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Secatero pled guilty to two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  In entering his guilty plea, Secatero admitted assaulting the victims, causing them to sustain serious bodily injuries, by driving under the influence of alcohol. 

At sentencing, Secatero faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison followed by up to three years of supervised release.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shammara Henderson.

ALBUQUERQUE – Michael Paul Astorga, 30, of Las Cruces, N.M., was sentenced this morning in federal court to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating the federal firearms laws.

Astorga was arrested on Nov. 20, 2014, on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition on Aug. 31, 2012, in Doña Ana County, N.M.  At the time, Astorga was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of robbery.

Astorga pled guilty to the indictment on Feb. 26, 2015, and admitted that on Aug. 31, 2012, he sold two firearms and ammunition to an undercover law enforcement agent and a person working with law enforcement.  He also acknowledged that as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Rodrigo Ivan Cazares, 34, a legal permanent resident from Zamora, Michoacan, Mexico who resides in Artesia, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., for a narcotics trafficking conviction involving more than 4.5 kilograms (ten pounds) of pure methamphetamine.  Cazares was sentenced to 168 months in prison, and will be deported after he completes his term of incarceration.  Cazares was also ordered to forfeit the $48,389.00 seized from him during the investigation leading to his conviction.

The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA’s El Paso Division, and Commander James McCormick of the HIDTA Pecos Valley Drug Task Force.

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said that Cazares was prosecuted as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.  U.S. Attorney Martinez said that Cazares was prosecuted under the initiative even though he has no prior criminal convictions because the significant quantities and the purity of the methamphetamine trafficked by Cazares demonstrated that he posed a serious danger to residents of Eddy County.

“Taking drug dealers like Mr. Cazares off the streets is DEA’s top priority, and our partnership with the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who sell these dangerous and addictive drugs in our local communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy. 

“This case is a perfect example of the mission and goals of the HIDTA program coming to fruition; local, state and federal agencies working together to remove the ‘worst of the worst’ criminals like Cazares from our community for as long as possible,” said Commander James McCormick of the HIDTA Pecos Valley Drug Task Force.  “The incarceration of Cazares and others involved in his criminal enterprise will have a direct impact on the residents of Eddy County, in a positive light.  Basically this is a ‘win-win’ for not only the residents of Eddy County but for all New Mexicans.”

Cazares was arrested in Oct. 2013, on a criminal complaint charging him with distribution of approximately 2.8 kilograms of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer on Oct. 15, 2013, in Eddy County, N.M.  He subsequently was charged in a five-count indictment with distributing large quantities of methamphetamine on four occasions between Aug. 2013 and Oct. 2013, and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 15, 2013.  The indictment alleged that Cazares committed the five methamphetamine trafficking offenses in Eddy County.

On May 28, 2014, Cazares pled guilty to all five-counts of the indictment and admitted that he committed the following crimes:

• Distribution of an ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential source working with law enforcement that on Aug. 15, 2013;

• Distribution of eight ounces of methamphetamine to the confidential source on Sept. 9, 2013;

• Distribution of five pounds of methamphetamine to the confidential source and an undercover law enforcement agent on Oct. 8, 2013;

• Distribution of five pounds of methamphetamine to the undercover law enforcement agent on Oct. 15, 2013; and

• Possession of two ounces of methamphetamine and an ounce of cocaine on Oct. 15, 2013.

In entering his guilty plea, Cazares admitted that law enforcement officers seized $48,389.00 in cash from Cazares and his residence when he was arrested on Oct. 15, 2013.  Cazares admitted that the cash and two vehicles seized by law enforcement agents on Oct. 15, 2013 were proceeds of his drug trafficking activities.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee L. Camacho of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case. 

The Pecos Valley Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department and Artesia Police Department and is part of the HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force.  The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.  HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.

ALBUQUERQUE – Marcos Barela, 28, of Albuquerque, N.M., made his initial appearance in federal court today on an indictment charging him with violating the federal firearms laws.  Barela remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing which are currently scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Barela was charged by federal indictment on Oct. 7, 2015, with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition on May 4, 2015, in Bernalillo County. N.M.  According to the indictment, Barela was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior criminal history which includes felony convictions for embezzlement, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a controlled substance, battery on a peace officer, arson and criminal damage to property.

Barela was arrested on a warrant for a state probation violation on May 4, 2015.  He was arrested on the federal indictment today after he was transferred to federal custody from state custody.

If convicted of the offense against him, Barela faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.  If Barela is determined to be a career criminal, he faces an enhanced sentence of not less than 15 years in federal prison upon conviction.  The indictment against Barela is merely an accusation and Barela is presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the DEA with assistance from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Probation and Parole Division of the New Mexico Corrections Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh is prosecuting the case as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat and violent offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.  Because New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Bernalillo County, under this initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – Guy N. Martinez, 23, of Las Vegas, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 84 months in federal prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for his federal child pornography conviction.  Martinez will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Martinez was arrested in July 2014, and charged in a criminal complaint with possessing, receiving and distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  According to the criminal complaint, the FBI initiated the investigation leading to Martinez’s arrest after receiving a lead from Queensland Police Service (QPS) in Brisbane, Australia.  Following the arrest of an Australian citizen in March 2012, on child pornography charges, the QPS identified more than 100 United States-based email accounts that allegedly had been used to send, receive or discuss child pornography with the Australian citizen.  Investigation by the FBI revealed that one of those email accounts was subscribed to Martinez.

The FBI’s investigation revealed that Martinez had two email accounts that allegedly had been used to receive and distribute more than 1,000 images consistent with child pornography.  On July 18, 2014, the FBI executed a search warrant at Martinez’s residence in Las Vegas, N.M.  They arrested Martinez while executing the search warrant. 

Martinez was subsequently indicted on Aug. 12, 2014, and charged with receiving and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct from March 1, 2012 through July 18, 2014 in San Miguel County, N.M.  Martinez pled guilty to possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on Aug. 20, 2015.  Martinez admitted that between March 1, 2012 and July 18, 2014, he possessed images of child pornography that traveled in interstate commerce.

This case was investigated by the Santa Fe office of the FBI and the New Mexico State Police with assistance from the QPS.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob A. Wishard as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

The case also was brought as a part of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico.  There are 82 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General.  Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.

ALBUQUERQUE – Lawrence Roybal, 53, a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation who resides in Dulce, N.M., was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for assaulting a tribal police officer who was commissioned as a federal officer.

“The Department of Justice is dedicated to supporting the courageous men and women who wear the badge and help uphold our Constitution,” said U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez.  “We will hold accountable those who threaten our public safety by attacking and seeking to harm our nation’s peacekeepers.”

Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division said, “The law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to keep us safe deserve the best protection we can give them.  The FBI is proud to have worked on this case with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Jicarilla Apache Tribal Police Department.  We hope this case sends a clear message this type of crime will not be tolerated.”

“All people are sacred; actions must be made in a split second.  The officer involved in this case exhibited a keen insight to remain safe and capture a very dangerous offender without using deadly force,” said Chief Sylvester Stanley of the Jicarilla Apache Tribal Police.  “We must remember that all officers have families that love them, and at the end of the day officers must go home safely to be with their families.  The Jicarilla Apache Nation is proud of all our brothers in blue.”

Roybal was arrested in May 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon.  According to the criminal complaint, Roybal attacked a Jicarilla Apache Tribal police officer with a pitchfork on May 11, 2015, in Dulce, N.M., which is within the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation in Rio Arriba County, N.M. 

Roybal was indicted on June 9, 2015, and charged with assaulting a federal officer who was engaged in the performance of his official duties.  The indictment alleges that, at the time of the assault, the victim was a tribal officer commissioned as a special federal officer by the BIA.

On Sept. 3, 2015, Roybal entered a guilty plea to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.

 This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Jicarilla Apache Tribal Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquel Ruiz-Velez. 

ALBUQUERQUE – Ida Rodriguez, 47, of Hobbs, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 60 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for violating federal narcotics trafficking laws. 

Rodriguez was arrested on June 10, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging her with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Lea and Doña Ana Counties, N.M.  According to the complaint, Rodriguez sold methamphetamine to an undercover DEA agent in July 2014 and Aug. 2014.  It also alleged that on Aug. 16, 2015, deputies of the Lea County Sherriff’s Office (LCSO) executed a traffic stop on Rodriguez and found her to be in possession of 168 grams of methamphetamine. 

On Aug. 19, 2015, Rodriguez pled guilty to a three-count felony information charging her with distribution of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  In entering the guilty plea, Rodriguez admitted that (1) she sold 28 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover agent in Hobbs on July 29, 2014; (2) she sold 56 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover agent in Las Cruces, N.M., on Aug. 4, 2014, and (3) on Aug. 16, 2014, she was stopped by LCSO deputies for a traffic violation during which the deputies found 168 grams of methamphetamine in her vehicle.  Rodriguez further admitted that she had obtained the methamphetamine in Phoenix, Ariz., and planned to sell it in Hobbs.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and the HIDTA Lea County Drug Task Force with assistance from the 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for the State of New Mexico.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Terri J. Abernathy of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.

The HIDTA Lea County Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Lea County Sheriff’s Office, Hobbs Police Department, Lovington Police Department, Eunice Police Department the Tatum Police Department and the Jal Police Department, and is part of the NM HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force.  The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.  HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.

ALBUQUERQUE –Matthew Maley, 48, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 262 months (almost 22 years) in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for his conviction on methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges.  Maley’s sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, and Lt. Bobby Holden, Commander of the HIDTA Regional Interagency Drug Task Force/Metro Narcotics Task Force.

In announcing Maley’s sentence, U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said that Maley, a career offender whose criminal history includes three prior drug trafficking convictions, was prosecuted under a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior criminal convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.  Because New Mexico’s violent crime rate, on a per capita basis, is one of the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Doña Ana County, N.M., under this initiative.

“Catching drug-traffickers and sending them to prison requires teamwork,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade.  “The FBI worked closely on this case with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the HIDTA Regional Interagency Drug Task Force/Metro Narcotics Task Force.  We will continue to develop and use our law enforcement partnerships to keep our communities safe.”

“This case is a prime example of multiple agencies working together to make New Mexico a safer place for its citizens,” added Lt. Bobby Holden, Commander of the HIDTA Regional Interagency Drug Task Force/Metro Narcotics Task Force.

Maley and his four co-defendants Jennifer Sanders, 43, Jose Luis Niño, 41, and Aubrey Savage, 36, all of Las Cruces, and Candice Marie Carpenter, 36, of Tucson,  were charged in a 14-count superseding indictment filed in March 2014.  The superseding indictment charged Maley, Sanders and Savage with participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Doña Ana County from June 2013 through Aug. 2013, and Maley, Nino and Carpenter with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Doña Ana County in Dec. 2013.  The superseding indictment also charged the defendants with various substantive methamphetamine trafficking offenses, and Maley and Niño were charged with being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition.  The four co-defendants entered guilty pleas to various counts of the superseding indictment while Maley elected to exercise his right to a jury trial. 

Maley proceeded to trial on Sept. 22, 2014, on five methamphetamine trafficking charges and a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition charge.  Before the case was submitted to the jury, the court entered a directed verdict of acquittal on one of the drug charges.  The trial concluded on Sept. 25, 2014, when the jury returned a verdict of guilty against Maley on four methamphetamine trafficking charges and the firearms charge.

The trial evidence established that Maley was the head of a drug trafficking organization that distributed significant quantities of methamphetamine in New Mexico and Arizona.  During July and Aug. 2013, undercover officers made several controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Maley, Sanders and Savage, including the purchase of a pound of methamphetamine on Aug. 21, 2013.  From Oct. through Dec. 2013, an informant purchased methamphetamine from Niño, who obtained the methamphetamine from Maley, and on Dec. 4, 2013, officers seized approximately 274 grams of methamphetamine when they executed a search warrant at Niño’s residence in Las Cruces.

On June 11, 2014, Savage pled guilty to a conspiracy count, and was sentenced on Feb. 25, 2015, to 60 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release.

On July 16, 2014, Niño pled guilty to conspiracy, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and felon in possession of ammunition.  At sentencing, Niño faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.  His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

On July 18, 2014, Sanders pled guilty to conspiracy and seven counts of distribution of methamphetamine.  At sentencing, Sanders faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.  Her sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

On Sept. 18, 2014, Carpenter pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and HIDTA Regional Interagency Drug Task Force/Metro Narcotics Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.

The HIDTA Regional Interagency Drug Task Force/Metro Narcotics Task Force is comprised of officers from the Las Cruces Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, HSI and the New Mexico State Police.  The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.  HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.

ALBUQUERQUE – Michael Stewart, 56, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Stewart will be sentenced to 135 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Stewart, whose lengthy criminal history includes felony convictions for cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking, robbery, kidnapping and theft, is being prosecuted as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.  Because New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Bernalillo County, under this initiative.

Stewart was arrested on Feb. 19, 2015, after DEA task force officers seized 611.9 gross grams of methamphetamine and more than $24,000.00 in cash from him and his vehicle during a traffic stop in northwest Albuquerque. Stewart was subsequently indicted on the same charge on March 10, 2015. 

The indictment also included forfeiture allegations requiring Stewart to forfeit $25,370.00 to the United States.  The court previously entered an order in a related civil proceeding forfeiting the cash to the United States.

During today’s change of plea hearing, Stewart pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on Feb. 18, 2015, he was in possession of 543.3 grams of actual methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others.  Stewart remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

 This case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana B. Long.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kotz handled the civil forfeiture proceedings.

ALBUQUERQUE – Kyla Norby, 27, of Hobbs, N.M., made her initial appearance in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., this morning on a criminal complaint charging her with production and distribution of child pornography.  Norby remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing and detention hearing, which have yet to be scheduled.

The criminal complaint alleges that Norby produced and distributed child pornography between May 1, 2015 and Dec. 30, 2015, in Lea County, N.M.  According to the criminal complaint, the investigation into Norby was initiated after Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents from Laredo, Tex., arrested a man in Odessa, Tex., who revealed that Norby made a two-year old child sexually available to him.  The criminal complaint further alleges that a search of the man’s smartphone revealed photos of Norby that included images consistent with child pornography.  The man alleged that Norby sent the images to him from her smartphone.

Norby was arrested on Jan. 14, 2016, in Odessa, Tex., and was transferred to New Mexico to face the charges against her. 

If convicted on the production charge, Norby faces a statutory mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison.  If convicted on the distribution charge, she faces a statutory mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.  Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of HSI and the Lea Country Sheriff’s Office, both members of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, with assistance from HSI in Laredo, Texas.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Lizarraga of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

The case was brought as a part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico.  There are 82 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the Office of the New Mexico Attorney General.  Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.

ALBUQUERQUE – Patrick M. Lopez, 48, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court to child pornography charges.  The guilty plea was entered without the benefit of a plea agreement.

Lopez was arrested in July 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  At the time of his arrest, Lopez was employed as a paramedic/firefighter with the Bernalillo County Fire Department.

The charges against Lopez arose from an investigation by the FBI and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).  On July 10, 2015, the FBI and BCSO executed a federal search warrant at Lopez’s residence.  During the search, forensic examiners found a laptop computer that contained videos consistent with child pornography.

During today’s proceedings, Lopez pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of child pornography.  According to the information, Lopez possessed the child pornography in Bernalillo County, N.M., between Jan. 19, 2015 and July 10, 2015.

At sentencing Lopez faces a statutory maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison followed by not less than five years of supervised release.  Lopez will also be required to register as a sex offender.  Lopez remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and BCSO, both members of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shammara H. Henderson as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

The case also was brought as a part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico.  There are 82 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General.  Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.

ALBUQUERQUE – Michael Montoya, 37, of Clovis, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 151 months in prison for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction.  Montoya will be on supervised release for ten years following his incarceration.  Montoya was also ordered to pay a money judgment in the amount of $60,000.00.

Montoya and his co-defendants, Brian Acuna, 23, and Dianna Hernandez-Trujillo, 24, both of Clovis, N.M., and Alexander Page, 28, of Tucumcari, N.M., were arrested in Nov. 2013, on a six-count indictment charging them with trafficking methamphetamine in three New Mexico counties.  Count 1 charged Montoya and his co-defendants with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Curry County, N.M., between Oct. 2007 and Nov. 2013.  Count 2 charged Montoya with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 11, 2011 in Curry County.  Count 3 charged Montoya and Acuna, and Hernandez-Trujillo with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on March 27, 2012, in Cibola County.  Count 4 charged Montoya and Page with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Nov. 7, 2012, in Socorro County.  Count 5 charged Montoya with money laundering for purchasing a residence with money derived from a drug trafficking activity on Sept. 22, 2010.  Count 6 charged Acuna with using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime on March 27, 2012, in Cibola County.

On Oct. 1, 2015, Montoya pled guilty to Count1 of the indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and Count 5 charging him with money laundering.  In his plea agreement, Montoya admitted arranging for drivers to travel to California in vehicles he provided so that they could transport methamphetamine from his sources of supply.  Montoya then distributed the methamphetamine in New Mexico.  He also admitted being the owner of the 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine seized from Acuna on March 27, 2012, and the 1.2 kilograms of methamphetamine seized from Page on Nov. 7, 2012, as well as providing the vehicles Acuna and Page were driving.  In entering his guilty plea, Montoya also admitted that on Sept. 22, 2010, he purchased a residence in Clovis with proceeds from his ongoing narcotics activities.  He also admitted that drug trafficking proceeds were his only source of income from 2005 through 2011, and that he did not file federal income tax returns on that income during those years.

On July 7, 2015, Page pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  In his plea agreement, Page admitted that he was stopped for driving 85 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone by a deputy of the Socorro County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 7, 2012, while traveling near Socorro, N.M.  During a search of the vehicle driven by Page, the deputy found approximately 1259 grams of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment in the vehicle.  At the time, Page was transporting the methamphetamine to Clovis where the drugs were to be sold and where Page was to be paid for transporting the drugs.  Page was sentenced on Nov. 30, 2015 to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. 

Acuna pled guilty on June 26, 2014, to Counts 1 and 3 of the indictment, charging him with participation in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  He also pled guilty to Count 6 of the indictment, charging him with using and carrying a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  In entering his guilty plea, Acuna admitted that on March 27, 2012, he and a co-defendant were stopped by police while transporting methamphetamine from California to Clovis.  At the time of the stop, Acuna and the co-defendant knew that a large quantity of methamphetamine was concealed in a secret compartment in the vehicle and that additional methamphetamine was in a backpack in the vehicle.  Acuna also admitted that he had a revolver and ammunition in the vehicle for protection.

At sentencing, Acuna faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to a maximum of life imprisonment on the methamphetamine trafficking charges.  On the gun charge, Acuna faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the drug charges.  Acuna remains in federal custody pending his sentencing hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

Hernandez-Trujillo has entered a not guilty plea to the indictment and is participating in a judicial pretrial diversion program.  Charges in indictments are merely accusation and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law. 

 This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation, Curry County Sheriff’s Office and City of Clovis Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean J. Sullivan and Jennifer M. Rozzoni are prosecuting this case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Marcos Anthony Correa, 31, of San Bernardino, Calif., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking and firearms convictions.

The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, 8th Judicial District Attorney Donald Gallegos, Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA’s El Paso Division, Special Agent in Charge Thomas G. Atteberry of the Phoenix Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pete N. Kassetas of the New Mexico State Police.    

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said that Correa, a career criminal, was prosecuted under a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible. 

“I am very grateful for this program and for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts to get violent career criminals off our streets.  It is important that our communities know about the local/state/federal cooperation that is holding these criminals accountable,” said 8th Judicial District Attorney Donald Gallegos.

Correa was charged in a four-count indictment filed on Aug. 12, 2014, with possession of methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute, carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The indictment was subsequently superseded on Sept. 9, 2014, to reflect an increase of the quantity of methamphetamine involved.  Correa was charged with committing the four offenses on May 30, 2014, in Colfax County, N.M.  At the time, Correa was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including evading a peace officer, possession of a controlled substance for sale, transporting a controlled substance with a participation in a criminal street gang enhancement and possession of heroin, resisting an officer.

Court records reflect that Correa was arrested on May 30, 2015, on related-state charges filed in the 8th Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico in Colfax County, N.M.  The state charges were dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.

On June 4, 2015, Correa pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  In entering the guilty plea, Correa admitted that on May 30, 2014, he possessed 87.3 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine that he intended to deliver to another person.  He further admitted possessing a semiautomatic pistol and ammunition in order to protect himself and his drugs in the event someone tried to rob him.

“This case highlights the impact we continue to have through the “worst of the worst” initiative.  We will continue to work together and pursue those who threaten our community through the smuggling and distribution of illegal and dangerous drugs,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy.

“I commend the outstanding investigative efforts of all our law enforcement partners. ATF will continue to utilize the full weight of the federal firearms to reduce violent crime in New Mexico,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Thomas G. Atteberry.
“The New Mexico State Police is committed to the safeguarding of our citizens and such apprehension of violent offenders is indicative of our ongoing efforts,” said New Mexico State Police Chief Pete N. Kassetas.  “We will continue partnering with law enforcement to ensure our citizens are safe and criminals are removed from the communities they jeopardize.”

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of the DEA and ATF and the New Mexico State Police, with assistance from the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Joseph Montano, 23, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court to felony charges arising out of a pharmacy robbery in Jan. 2015.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Montano will be sentenced within the range of 80 to 120 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. 

The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Kari E. Brandenburg, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA’s El Paso Division,   Chief Gorden Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque Police Department, Chief Pete N. Kassetas of the New Mexico State Police.

Montano and his co-defendant Victor Hurtado, 21, also of Albuquerque, were charged in April 2015 with crimes arising from the Jan. 6, 2015, armed robbery of the Smith’s Pharmacy located at 4016 Louisiana Blvd. NE in Albuquerque.  The indictment alleged that the two men (1) violated the Hobbs Act by interfering with interstate commerce by robbery and violence; (2) brandished a firearm during a crime of violence; (3) violated the Controlled Substance Registrant Act by robbery involving controlled substance; (4) violated the Safe Doses Act by theft of medical products; and (5) possessed Oxycodone with intent to distribute. 

During today’s change of plea hearing, Montano plead guilty to violating the Hobbs Act by interfering with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, violating the Controlled Substance Registrant Act by robbery involving controlled substances, violating the Safe Doses Act by theft of medical products and possession of Oxycodone with intent to distribute.  Montano admitted that on Jan. 6, 2015, he acted as a lookout while his accomplice jumped over the pharmacy counter at the Smith’s Pharmacy located at 4016 Louisiana Blvd. NE in Albuquerque, pointed a firearm at pharmacy employees and bagged bottles of Oxycodone pills.  Montano further admitted that he and his accomplice intended to distribute the controlled substances to other individuals and that the replacement value to Smith’s Pharmacy for the stolen pills in approximately $1,831.00.

Montano remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

On July 1, 2015, co-defendant Hurtado pled guilty to robbing a commercial business engaged in interstate commerce; brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of Oxycodone with intent to distribute.  Hurtado also pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and admitted that he was arrested on state charges on March 5, 2015, after the New Mexico State Police found 54 grams of heroin and 133 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle Hurtado was driving.  Hurtado was sentenced on Dec. 11, 2015, to 141 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Hurtado was also ordered to pay restitution to the pharmacy.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI, the Tactical Diversion Squad of the DEA in Albuquerque, the Albuquerque Police Department and the New Mexico State Police, with assistance from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Bernalillo County.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel R. Meyers and Shaheen P. Torgoley. 

DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squads combine DEA resources with those of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in an innovative effort to investigate, disrupt and dismantle those suspected of violating the Controlled Substances Act or other appropriate federal, state or local statutes pertaining to the diversion of licit pharmaceutical controlled substances or listed chemicals.

These cases are being prosecuted as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.  Because New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Bernalillo County, under this initiative.

This case is being prosecuted pursuant to the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.  The HOPE Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is partnering with the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative with the overriding goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  The law enforcement component of the HOPE Initiative is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – Antonio Escobedo, 41, a resident of Albuquerque, N.M., from Calera, Zacatecas, Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court to 60 months in prison for violating the federal firearms laws.  Escobedo will be deported following his term of incarceration. 

Escobedo was arrested in Feb. 2012, and charged by criminal complaint with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 2, 2012, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  According to the complaint, on Feb. 2, 2012, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Escobedo’s residence and vehicle and seized approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine, three firearms and ammunition, $12,541.00 in cash and drug paraphernalia. 

Escobedo was indicted on March 1, 2012, and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  The indictment was subsequently superseded on June 26, 2013, charging Escobedo with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Escobedo was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his previous felony convictions. 

On July 1, 2014, Escobedo pled guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Escobedo admitted that on Feb. 2, 2012, he possessed methamphetamine inside of a shed on his property and inside of his vehicle, $12,541.00 in a bedroom closet, scales for weighing illegal drugs and wireless telephones for communicating about methamphetamine trafficking.  He further admitted that the methamphetamine was intended for distribution to others and not for his personal use.  Escobedo also admitted that he possessed three firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities and that he was prepared to use the firearms to protect the controlled substances and proceeds of his drug trafficking activities.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of the DEA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Michael Quarrel, 81, of Deming, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to violating the Archeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA).  The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez and Special Agent in Charge Clark Beene of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Region 5 of Office of Law Enforcement and Security.

During today’s change of plea hearing, Quarrel pled guilty to a felony information charging him with violating ARPA on Sept. 30, 2013, by excavating, removing and damaging an archaeologic resource located on federal lands in Luna County, N.M.  In entering the guilty plea, Quarrel admitted that on Sept. 30, 2013, he violated ARPA by digging on federal land managed by BLM and removing several pieces of broken Mimbres pottery, thus causing damage to the archaeological resource.

ARPA protects archaeological resources on public and Indian lands.  It provides felony-level penalties for unauthorized excavation, removal, damage, alteration, or defacement of any archaeological resource, which is defined as material remains of past human life or activities that at least 100 years old.  The archaeological resource at which Quarrel committed his crime, which is known as the Indian Wells site and is located on federal land near the Cedar Mountains in Luna County, contains remains of a Mimbres Mogollon prehistoric habitation site.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Quarrel will be sentenced to two years of probation and will be required to pay $4,250.00 in restitution to cover the cost of damages he caused to the archaeological resource.  Quarrel also will be banned from BLM lands for a period of two-years.  A sentencing hearing for Quarrel has yet to be scheduled.

“Those who remove or damage artifacts on public or tribal lands take something from all of us.  These treasures are the heritage of all Americans, and in many cases, the objects are sacred to Native Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez.  “The idea that you can take whatever you want from public lands is wrong.”

“The successful prosecution of this case is attributed to the cooperation between BLM and the Luna County Sheriff’s Office along with the United States Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico. All violations of the Archeological Resources Protection Act on public lands administered by BLM will be investigated aggressively,” said BLM Special Agent in Charge Clark Beene.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces Field Office of the BLM and the Luna County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna R. Wright of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.

ALBUQUERQUE – David Ausborn Hiles, 48, of La Luz, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Hiles will be sentenced to a prison term not to exceed 70 months followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. 

Hiles was arrested in Feb. 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  The complaint alleged that Hiles unlawfully possessed 36 firearms and ammunition at his residence in Otero County, N.M., on Nov. 25, 2014.  According to the criminal complaint, the New Mexico State Police found the firearms and ammunition while executing a search warrant at Hiles’ residence. 

Hiles was subsequently indicted on the same charge on April 14, 2015.  The indictment noted that Hiles was prohibited from possessing either firearms or ammunition because he previously has been convicted of the felony offenses of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, tampering with evidence, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and intimidation of a witness.

During today’s proceedings, Hiles pled guilty to a felony information charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  Hiles admitted that on Nov. 25, 2014, he was in possession of 36 firearms and approximately 15,000 rounds of miscellaneous ammunition.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Hiles will forfeit the firearms and ammunition.

Hiles remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Mexico State Police, with assistance from the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for the State of New Mexico.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Bradford J. Billy, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in West Jordan, Utah, was sentenced this morning in Albuquerque, N.M., to 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involuntary manslaughter conviction. 

Billy was arrested on Dec. 2, 2014, on a criminal complaint charging him with involuntary manslaughter.  According to the complaint, Billy killed the victim who was a passenger in Billy’s vehicle, when Billy crashed his vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol.  The crash occurred on Aug. 2, 2014, in a location within the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, N.M.  Billy was subsequently indicted on the same charge on Dec. 16, 2014.

On Aug. 17, 2015, Billy pled guilty to the indictment and admitted killing the victim by driving recklessly on a gravel road while under the influence of alcohol.  Billy acknowledged that the alcohol rendered him incapable of exercising clear judgment and a steady hand in operating a vehicle.  Billy also acknowledged that he operated the vehicle without using due caution and with a reckless disregard that imperiled the lives of others.

This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback prosecuted this case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Wilfredo Lopez, 47, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to four years of probation for defrauding the federal food stamp program.  Lopez was also ordered to pay $8,382.00 in restitution. 

Lopez is one of six defendants charged with defrauding the Food Stamp Program in a 32-count indictment that was filed in Aug. 2014.  The indictment alleged that between Sept. 2009 to May 2010, Joseph Martin Padilla, 33, conspired with Lopez, Joshua Moya, 33, Justin Quintana, 29, Sergio Escobedo, 36, and Veronica Hernandez, 41, to defraud the United States through the unauthorized use of Food Stamp benefits, which are currently called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.  During this time, Padilla worked as a Family Assistance Analyst for the Income Support Division of the New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) where he was responsible for determining applicants’ eligibility and benefit level for SNAP benefits.

SNAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is administered by the States.  The program was created to alleviate hunger and malnutrition, and permits low income households to obtain more nutritious diet by increasing the food purchasing power for eligible households.  In New Mexico, individuals qualify to participate in SNAP based on income and need by completing an application with the Income Support Division of HSD.  Once an applicant is deemed eligible for SNAP benefits by a Family Assistance Analyst, the Analyst establishes a SNAP account in the applicant’s name and electronic benefit transfers (EBT), which are determined based on income, resources and household size, are deposited into the account on a monthly basis.

The indictment charged Padilla with abusing his position as a Family Assistance Analyst to conspire with his co-defendants to defraud the United States through the unauthorized use of SNAP benefits.  Padilla used names and personal identifiers he obtained from his co-defendants to establish fraudulent SNAP accounts, in exchange for cash or other things of value.  It also charged Padilla with establishing and using a fraudulent SNAP account to fraudulently obtain approximately $1,468.00 in SNAP benefits for himself.  According to the indictment, Padilla fraudulently established 25 separate SNAP accounts through which the United States was defrauded of approximately $45,263.00 in SNAP benefits.  Additionally, Padilla, aided and abetted by his co-defendants, fraudulently established SNAP accounts that were used to fraudulently obtain an aggregate of $12,705.00 in SNAP benefits.

On May 19, 2015, Lopez entered a guilty plea to one count of the indictment and admitted that he completed fraudulent applications for SNAP benefits in his name, another for himself in a pseudonym, and in the names of two other individuals.  Lopez paid $100.00 to process each of the applications.  He acknowledged that his criminal conduct caused a total monetary loss to the U.S. Department of Agriculture of approximately $8,382.00.            

On Nov. 23, 2015, Padilla pled guilty two counts of the indictment and admitted that he was previously employed by HSD and despite his awareness of the policies and procedures of HSD, he processed numerous applications for SNAP benefits in a fraudulent manner in exchange for cash payments.  Padilla acknowledged that his illegal conduct resulted in an aggregate loss to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the State of New Mexico of approximately $181,398.76.  Padilla is currently scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 19, 2016.

On May 18, 2015, Quintana pled guilty to one count of the Indictment, and admitted meeting Padilla through Moya, and knowing that Padilla had the ability to register people to receive food stamps.  Quintana admitted that he agreed to pay Padilla a fee in exchange for arranging for him to receive food stamps unlawfully.  Quintana obtained $486.00 in SNAP benefits through his illegal conduct.  He also received a fee for collecting SNAP applications from six other people and delivering the completed applications to Padilla for the purpose of assisting them in obtaining SPA benefits unlawfully.  Quintana acknowledged that his criminal conduct caused a monetary loss to the U.S. Department of Agriculture of $9,384.00.  Quintana was sentenced on Aug. 17, 2015, to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $9,384.00 in restitution.

On March 9, 2015, Moya pled guilty to one count of the indictment and admitted that he fraudulently obtained SNAP benefits to which he was not entitled.  Moya admitted that in early Dec. 2009, Padilla provided him with an application to obtain food stamps.  Moya completed the application and returned it to Padilla for processing even though he knew that he was not entitled to SNAP benefits.  Moya admitted unlawfully receiving $866.00 in SNAP benefits.  Moya also admitted providing another application for SNAP benefits to a family member and that his relative unlawfully received $1,578.00 in SNAP benefits.  On May 6, 2015, Moya was sentenced to six months in prison, or time served, followed by three years of supervised release.  Moya also was ordered to pay $2,444.00 in restitution.

Escobedo and Hernandez have entered not guilty pleas to the charges in the indictment.  Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of Inspector General for New Mexico Human Services, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Sullivan.

ALBUQUERQUE – Patrick Gonzalez, 40, of Las Cruces, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 216 months in prison for his conviction on heroin trafficking and firearms charges.  Gonzalez will be on supervised release for five years following his incarceration.

Gonzalez, together with a Mexican national and 19 other Las Cruces residents, were charged with heroin trafficking offenses in five indictments filed in Nov. 2013, as a result of a multi-agency investigation led by the FBI that targeted the heroin trafficking activities of Jovita Belmonte-Gonzalez in Doña Ana County.  Belmonte-Gonzales, 45, a Mexican national from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, was named as the lead defendant in four of five indictments which charged her with supplying heroin to five drug trafficking organizations that distributed heroin in Doña Ana County. 

Belmonte-Gonzalez, pled guilty to heroin trafficking charges in four of the five cases in June 2014, and admitted conducting frequent heroin transactions with her co-defendants between June 2013 and Oct. 2013.  Court records reflect that Belmonte-Gonzalez typically negotiated heroin sales by telephone from Juarez and her co-defendants traveled from Doña Ana County to Juarez where they purchased the heroin from her and later distributed the drugs in Doña Ana County.  Belmonte-Gonzales faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, and will be deported after she completes her prison sentence.  She remains in federal custody pending her sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

On Feb. 27, 2015, Gonzalez pled guilty to participating in a heroin trafficking conspiracy and to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In entering his guilty plea, Gonzalez admitted that from Sept. 2013 through Oct. 2013, he facilitated at least a dozen drug transactions involving an aggregate of 2.4 kilograms of heroin between Belmonte-Gonzalez and other co-conspirators.  Gonzalez also admitted that he arranged for individuals to travel to Belmonte-Gonzalez in Juarez, Mexico, to purchase heroin on his behalf and then bring the heroin back to him in Doña Ana County, N.M., where he distributed the heroin to others.  He further admitted that on Nov. 15, 2013, he possessed four firearms and that he kept them because of the dangers associated with dealing illegal drugs though he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his status as a convicted felon. 

All 21 of the defendants arrested as a result of the investigation have entered guilty pleas. Nineteen defendants have been sentenced; Belmonte-Gonzales and one other defendant are currently awaiting sentencing hearings. 

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee L. Camacho, of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.  The investigation leading to the charges in the four cases was led by the Las Cruces office of the FBI in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Las Cruces office of the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Las Cruces Police Department and the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office. 

The investigation was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations.

This case is being prosecuted pursuant to the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.  The HOPE Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is partnering with the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative with the overriding goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  The law enforcement component of the HOPE Initiative is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – Dusty Lee Chavez, 23, a member and resident of Zuni Pueblo, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a second degree murder charge.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Chavez will be sentenced within the range of 228 to 276 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Chavez and his co-defendant Douglas Burt, 19, also a member and resident of Zuni Pueblo, were arrested in Nov. 2014, on a criminal complaint charging them with murdering a man on Oct. 28, 2014, in the Zuni Indian Reservation in McKinley County, N.M.  Burt and Chavez were subsequently indicted on murder charges on Nov. 19, 2014.

During today’s change of plea hearing, Chavez pled guilty to a felony information charging him with second degree murder.  In entering the guilty plea, Chavez admitted that he and Burt instigated a fight with the victim during which Chavez and Burt took the victim to the ground and punched and kicked the victim.  Chavez further admitted that he hit the victim in the head with a rock and Burt stabbed the victim in the torso.  An autopsy revealed that the victim died of blunt head trauma and stab wounds to the chest. 

On Jan. 7, 2016, Burt pled guilty to a felony information and admitted that he and Chavez murdered the victim.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Burt will be sentenced within the range of 204 to 264 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. 

Chavez and Burt have been in federal custody since their arrests.  They remain detained pending sentencing hearings which have yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Zuni Pueblo Tribal Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elaine Y. Ramirez and Kyle T. Nayback are prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Deandre Lamont Brown, 29, a non-Native man who resides in Dulce, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to an assault of an intimate partner charge. 

Brown was arrested on April 17, 2015, on an indictment charging him with assaulting an Indian woman and intimate partner by strangling or suffocating on Oct. 3, 2014, in Indian Country in Rio Arriba County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Brown pled guilty to the indictment and admitted to assaulting the victim, a Native American woman who was his intimate partner, by strangling and suffocating her.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Brown will be sentenced within the range of 12 to 36 months in federal prison.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Jicarilla Apache Tribal Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson.

This case was brought as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna.  The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native American women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both.  The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.

ALBUQUERQUE – Luis Delgadillo, 39, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin into the Otero County Prison Facility (OCPF) in Chaparral, N.M.  Delgadillo was employed as a corrections officer at the OCPF when he committed the crime for which he was sentenced. 

Delgadillo was one of six individuals charged in April 2014, in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to violate the federal narcotics laws by smuggling controlled substances into the OCPF.  The other defendants charged with participating in the conspiracy were Anna Lopez, 26, of Albuquerque, N.M., Nancy Salas, 37, of Alamogordo, N.M., and three OCPF inmates, Eric Lovato, 32, of Boles Acres, N.M., and Armando Lopez, 29, and Gary Borja, 28, both of Albuquerque.  All six defendants subsequently were indicted on Aug. 20, 2014, and charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin from Dec. 2013 through April 26, 2014, in Otero County, N.M.

The FBI initiated an investigation into the case in Jan. 2014, after receiving information from the New Mexico Corrections Department showing that Delgadillo was smuggling heroin and methamphetamine into the OCPF.  The investigation, which included a review of recorded inmate telephone calls and OCPF surveillance video, physical surveillance and the results of inmate drug testing, identified the six defendants as members of a conspiracy who smuggled narcotics into the OCPF between Jan. 2014 and April 2014. 

On Nov. 19, 2014, Delgadillo entered a guilty plea and admitted participating in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the OCPF between Dec. 2013 and April 2014.  Delgadillo admitted smuggling an ounce of methamphetamine into the OCPF in Dec. 2013; an ounce of heroin in Feb. 2014; and another ounce of heroin in April 2014.  He also admitted that on April 26, 2014, he met with Ana Lopez and obtained 25 grams of methamphetamine, 11 grams of heroin and 10 suboxone pills from her. He was arrested before he was able to smuggle the drugs into the OCPF.

Delgadillo’s five co-defendants have entered guilty pleas to the indictment.  On June 24, 2015, Lopez was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release.  Sentencing hearings for the four remaining co-defendants have yet to be scheduled. 

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the New Mexico Corrections Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Saltman of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.

This case is being prosecuted pursuant to the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.  The HOPE Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is partnering with the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative with the overriding goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  The law enforcement component of the HOPE Initiative is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division and Chief Gorden E. Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) announced the arrest of Darrel Salazar, 47, of Albuquerque, N.M., on a criminal complaint charging him with attempted bank robbery.

Salazar was arrested this morning by the FBI and made his initial appearance in federal court earlier today.  He remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing, both of which are scheduled at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. 

According to the criminal complaint, on the afternoon of Jan. 11, 2016, Salazar attempted unsuccessfully to rob the branch of the Bank of America located at 3101 Carlisle Blvd. NE in Albuquerque.  The criminal complaint alleges that shortly before 4:00 p.m., Salazar entered the bank where he allegedly passed a note demanding cash to a bank teller and brandished a firearm at the teller in an effort to rob the bank.  Salazar allegedly left the bank without obtaining any cash and was apprehended shortly thereafter in the vicinity of a nearby convenience store by APD officers. 

According to the criminal complaint, immediately before he was apprehended, Salazar was shot by an APD officer after Salazar allegedly pointed a firearm at APD officers.  Thereafter Salazar was admitted to the University of New Mexico Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

If convicted on the attempted bank robbery charge, Salazar faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  Charges in criminal complaints are mere accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and APD.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh is prosecuting the case.

Salazar Complaint

ALBUQUERQUE – Jorge Antonio Rangel, 36, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 63 months in prison for his narcotics trafficking conviction.  Rangel will be on supervised release for four years following his incarceration.

Rangel was arrested in Nov. 2014, and charged by criminal complaint with possession of heroin and methamphetamine with intent to distribute to Oct. 23, 2014, in Hidalgo County, N.M.  According to the complaint, on Oct. 23, 2014, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Rangel’s vehicle and seized approximately four pounds of methamphetamine and two ounces of heroin. Rangel was subsequently indicted on the same charges on March 18, 2015.

On June 24, 2015, Rangel pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute.  In entering the guilty plea, Rangel admitted that on Oct. 23, 2014, he was stopped by law enforcement officers for speeding in Lordsburg, N.M., and during a search of his vehicle pursuant to a search warrant, the officers found approximately 4 pounds of methamphetamine and two ounces of heroin.  Rangel admitted that he intended to deliver the methamphetamine and heroin to another person. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Lordsburg Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna R. Wright of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.

This case is being prosecuted pursuant to the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.  The HOPE Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is partnering with the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative with the overriding goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  The law enforcement component of the HOPE Initiative is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.

ALBUQUERQUE – Arthur L. Garcia, 24, an enrolled member and resident of Acoma Pueblo, N.M., was sentenced this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 97 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his voluntary manslaughter conviction.

Garcia was arrested in May 2014, and charged in a criminal complaint with killing a non-Native man in Indian Country in Cibola County, N.M., on May 8, 2014.  The crime occurred during an argument between Garcia and the victim while the two men were drinking alcoholic beverages.  The argument escalated into a physical altercation between the two men during which Garcia threw a ten-pound weight at the victim, hitting him in the head.  Garcia then got on top of the victim and threw the weight down onto the victim’s face.  Garcia was subsequently indicted on a second degree murder charge on May 21, 2014.

On March 27, 2015, Garcia pled guilty to a felony information charging him with voluntary manslaughter.  In entering his guilty plea, Garcia admitted that on May 8, 2014, he killed the victim by striking him with a ten pound weight with the intention of causing him to suffer serious bodily injury.  Garcia also admitted that his actions resulted in the victim’s death and that he committed the crime on the Acoma Pueblo Indian Reservation.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI, the Laguna/Acoma Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and the Pueblo of Acoma Tribal Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Ricardo Raul Murrietta-Romero, 38, a U.S. citizen who resides in Nogales, Mexico, made his initial appearance today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of more than 12 pounds of heroin with intent to distribute.  Murrietta-Romero remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing which are scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Murrietta-Romero was arrested yesterday after DEA agents allegedly found approximately 12.208 pounds of heroin in his luggage at the Greyhound Bus Station in Albuquerque.  If convicted on the charge in the criminal complaint, Murrietta-Romero faces a statutory penalty of a mandatory minimum of ten years and maximum of life in federal prison.  Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Interdiction Unit of the DEA’s Albuquerque office which focuses on disrupting the flow of narcotics, weapons, and the proceeds of illegal activities as they are smuggled into or through New Mexico in passenger buses, passenger trains, commercial vehicles and automobiles.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo R. Armijo is prosecuting the case.

This case is being prosecuted pursuant to the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.  The HOPE Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is partnering with the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative with the overriding goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  The law enforcement component of the HOPE Initiative is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.