City News Service contributed to this report. In a September 1 search of multiple locations around the city, law enforcement say they recovered more than 1 million fentanyl pills. On Tuesday, Oct., officers with the New Mexico State. U.S. citizens had been apprehended about 2,400 times by late March for drug smuggling during inspections of vehicles crossing those checkpoints. Edgar Dominguez-Cuellar, 30, of Sunland Park, N.M., is charged in Counts 1, 7-10 and 12-13 of the indictment. El Chapo sons charged with pushing cheap fentanyl into US Updated: May 27, 2021 / 05:33 AM CDT. Full story on KRQE.com: https://www.krqe.com/video/video-shows-espanola-police-shoot-man-armed-with-rifle-during-traffic-stop/, BCSO deputy impersonator to remain in jail. All rights reserved. It was a three-month operation that. It needs us all to build a better society, a more supportive, more affectionate society.. The charges against Reye and Ornelas arise out of the seizure of approximately 17.80 pounds (8.10 kilograms) by the Hatch Police Department near Hatch, N.M., on April 20, 2017. Hours of operation and contact information are provided below. Authorities said Ingram had served time in the Arizona Department of Corrections on prior drug-related charges. The New Mexico Substance Abuse Epidemiology Profile is a tool for substance abuse prevention planners at the state, county, and community level. The charges are the result of a 16-month DEA-led investigation during which law enforcement authorities seized approximately 30 kilograms of heroin, 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 17 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of marijuana, 24 firearms, $102,000 in currency, and three vehicles. Box 607 ST. LOUIS - The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) busted a large-scale, multi-state drug trafficking ring and 11 people from St. Louis have been arrested for their role. Manuel German Ibarra, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., is charged in Counts 1, 2, 22 and 31 of the indictment. Quarterly report for measures related to prescription drug overdose in New Mexico. Flores was arrested this morning in Anthony. The Albuquerque Police Department made a large drug bust on Thursday recovering narcotics, a gun and cash in a stolen car.Officers were near San Pedro and Kathryn conducting an operation when they . Ibarra has yet to be arrested and is considered a fugitive. Lucero Complaint Official websites use .gov Market data provided by Factset. Ivonne Briseno-Lopez, 26, of El Paso, Texas, was arrested this morning and will be charged by criminal complaint with participating in the money laundering conspiracies charged in the indictment. Cargo trucks line up to cross into the United States at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry near the border in Tijuana on April 2, 2019. Apprehension numbers for U.S. and Mexican citizens caught driving drugs over the border in recent years also were not as far apart as this year 1,693 vs. 793 in 2018 and 2,694 vs. 1,218 in 2019, respectively. 0:00. In announcing the charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Tierney said, This investigation and its resulting prosecutions are about taking control of our streets. Georgina Ramirez, 36, of Anthony, N.M., is charged in Counts 1, 36-38 and 43 of the indictment. Soto was arrested this morning in Las Cruces. The maximum penalty on conviction varies for each defendant. Vanessa Reyes, 26, of El Paso, Tex., is charged in Counts 1-2 and 29-31 of the indictment. According to court records, Jose Mendoza and Natalie Mendoza also laundered proceeds from their drug trafficking by making large cash payments on auto loans and large cash deposits into accounts at credit unions. Martin J. Contreras, 25, of Rio Rancho, N.M., is charged in Counts 1 and 25-26 of the indictment. The following agencies assisted with the investigation: Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Region III Narcotics Task Force, which includes members of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff and the Taos Police Department. The Las Cruces and Albuquerque offices of the DEA conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, New Mexico State Police and Hatch Police Department. We are proud to partner with these other fine law enforcement agencies as we work together to protect our citizens and our future from the selfish criminals that look to profit by exploiting our neighborhoods and our children, said, Jeffrey D. Self, Chief Patrol Agent, El Paso Sector. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Monroy was arrested this morning in Chaparral. The maximum penalty on conviction is from 10 years to life in prison. Colombia is the worlds largest producer of cocaine despite decades of international efforts to curb the drug trade. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "Smuggling drugs is a risk management enterprise. HOPEs law enforcement component is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorneys Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners. The statutory penalty for a conviction on this count is imprisonment for not less than five years, which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on other counts of conviction. Then something changed, Virginia Gov. Count 9 charges a defendant with distributing more than 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. In comparison, just 361 such apprehensions during the same period involved Mexican citizens, who are generally second behind Americans for drug trafficking arrests at ports of entry. The 44-count indictment, which was filed under seal on April 19, 2017 and unsealed earlier today, alleges that the 23 defendants charged therein participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine between April 2016 and April 2017. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) - A traffic stop in Cibola County led to the discovery of more than half a million dollars worth of drugs. Federal court documents reveal that the fentanyl recently seized by the FBI likely comes from the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. "This was not something he was regularly involved in," Cantu said of Mendoza, who pleaded guilty to a drug smuggling charge in March. Witnesses offer conflicting accounts, Mars Voltas lead singer broke with Scientology and reunited with the band. It can slow breathing, reduce blood pressure, cause seizures, and lead to death. A lock ( The New Mexico Substance Use Epidemiology Profile is a tool for substance abuse prevention planners at the state, county, and community level. Mryna Montemayor, a public defender representing Barboza, did not respond to an email seeking comment. An increasing number of American citizens have been apprehended as they have tried to smuggle illegal drugs into the U.S. since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, an uptick that's come amid travel restrictions at the border with Mexico. MIAMI - South Florida federal prosecutors have charged the leader of a notorious Mexican drug cartel and five others for their alleged roles in importing into the United States over 500 kilograms of Mexican methamphetamine. The investigation, which was designated as part of the Justice Departments Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, targeted a DTO allegedly led by Luis Angel Briseo-Lopez, 30, a Mexican national believed to reside in Juarez, Mexico, and who has yet to be arrested. Rosa M. De Santiago, 43, of Sunland Park, N.M., is charged in Counts 1- 2 and 36-40 of the indictment. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This April 2019 file photo shows the port of entry from Mexicali, Mexico to Calexico, Calif. (AP/West Coast Aerial Photography Inc.), KAMALA HARRIS HAS GONE 69 DAYS WITHOUT A NEWS CONFERENCE SINCE BEING TASKED WITH BORDER CRISIS ROLE. The bust happened at a residence on Coolidge Avenue in Columbus on Thursday after about a month-long investigation. Deputies and members of an FBI task force seized about 18,000 pills along with meth, heroin and other substances after getting a tip Ingram would regularly travel from Arizona to New Mexico with narcotics and would distribute them in the Albuquerque area, authorities said. It also alleges that nine of the defendants also participated in an international money laundering conspiracy during that same period in time. This operation reinforces that there are consequences to those that choose to conspire to illegal narcotics crimes in our communities and state., The Hatch Police Department along with the other agencies involved in todays operation continue to have a strong relationship, said Chief James Gimler of the Hatch Police Department. or redistributed. We rely on each other to help keep our communities safe from those who defy our laws., Through partnerships within our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, those communities and families affected by criminal activity can rest assured, that at the end of the day, we are all here to Serve and Protect. News. Contreras was arrested this morning in Rio Rancho. DEA will continue to disrupt and dismantle these DTOs to break the wave of fentanyl flooding and endangering our communities.. District of New Mexico Americans are critical to these operations, trafficking experts say. Ramirez was arrested this morning in Anthony. Petro argues that the approach has been ineffective in reducing harvests and has instead criminalized otherwise law-abiding peasants and strengthened Mafias. "Its just opened up that opportunity to get new recruits," he said. WASHINGTON Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared during his inaugural address last August that the time has come for a new approach in the international war on drugs, which he argued has failed and failed resoundingly.. Customs and Border Protection says narcotics seizures along the U.S.-Mexico border have increased slightly in the 2021 fiscal year, while the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said Mexican traffickers' ability to move drugs into the country had stayed "largely intact.". The latest videos from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Indictment in United States v. Luis Angel Briseo-Lopez, et al., 17-CR-1032-RB. Counts 14, 25, 35 and 36 charge certain defendants with possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. In the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years, Americans were caught roughly twice as often as Mexicans. Cantu estimates the number of cases he's handled of U.S. citizens facing drug smuggling charges has doubled since 2019. In 2021, the Latin American country produced 972 tons of cocaine that are exported mostly to the United States, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy reported last July. For example, the overt acts allege that the DTOs drug trafficking and money laundering activities extended to Kentucky, where law enforcement officers seized $15,300 in drug proceeds from a courier who was transporting the money to New Mexico in April 2016; Oklahoma, where law enforcement officers seized 4.44 kilograms of methamphetamine from a courier in June 2016; and New Mexico, where law enforcement officers seized six kilograms of heroin from couriers at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in October 2016. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Fernandez was arrested this morning in Albuquerque. "But generally speaking people sometimes may find themselves in a bind. The statutory penalty for a conviction on this count is imprisonment for not less than ten years nor more than life and a $10 million fine. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Natalie Mendoza allegedly kept records of drug sales and collected proceeds from drug transactions. But the Albuquerque FBI office says investigations are ongoing and they expect more arrests to come. The maximum statutory penalty for a conviction on this count is 20 years and a $500,000. A landmark truth commission report found the war on drugs prolonged thecountry's decadeslong civil war. Sheriff Manuel Gonzales said in a statement that such operations in Albuquerque continue to produce results that are helping to make the community safer. Bahe was arrested this morning in Las Cruces. Barboza told law enforcement officials that she was to drive the shipment to an undisclosed location in Houston in exchange for $10,000, according to a criminal complaint. In February, the U.S. Attorneys office announced that 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine were seized in an investigation targeting a Bay Area drug ring that was led by the infamous Sinaloa Cartel. Crime and Public Safety | He was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. The New Mexico Department of Health operates several administrative offices around the state that oversee regional and statewide office operations. Reyes was arrested this morning in Arlington, Tex. Ryan Rodriguezs girlfriend, Bridget Archuleta, is alleged to have participated in drug sales with Rodriguez. Customs and Border Protection figures show the agency seized nearly 92,000 poundsof drugs from vehicles at southern ports of entry between October 2020 and May. prosecutions against drug dealers in Southeastern New Mexico and the Espaola Valley. U.S. citizens were apprehended nearly seven times more often than Mexican citizens between October 2020 and March 31 for trying to smuggle drugs in vehicles, U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows. Counts 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 22 through 24, 27, 28, 30, 32 and 33 charge certain defendants with using communication facilities to facilitate drug trafficking crimes. The following agencies assisted with the investigation: Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Region III Narcotics Task Force, which includes members of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff and the Taos Police Department. Elias Buck was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 10 years in prison. The drug bust marks the second time this year that federal authorities in the Bay Area have touted large-scale methamphetamine seizures. In court documents, a unnamed source says hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills are moved up from Mexico before being distributed to several gangs around Albuquerque before being sold within several shady hotels around Albuquerque. The federal attorneys allege this system provides a steady stream of fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Mexico.. $54 million drug bust tied to Mexican cartel uncovered in FL, GA | wtsp.com Polk County 'Operation Dirty Water': 6 charged in $54 million drug bust with ties to the Mexican cartel Polk. Though illegal substances brought in by that type of courier represent just a fraction of the overall drugs crossing into the U.S., those apprehensions in fiscal year 2018 were more balanced between U.S. citizens and non-citizens at 467 vs. 386, respectively, Customs and Border Protection data shows. U.S. authorities have not yet said what the estimated street value is of the 6,266 packages of meth and fentanyl discovered Thursday. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said it would have caused incredible damage in our communities.. Abundio Rene Cantu, a lawyer representing Mendoza, said he believes his client was offered a reward "in the thousands" of dollars. Carlos Martin Quintana-Arias, a Mexican resident, was arrested Thursday after 17,584 pounds of meth and 389 pounds of fentanyl were seized. U.S. government destroying the dollars value through inflation. The statutory penalty for a conviction on this count is imprisonment for not less than ten years or more than life and a $10 million fine. The HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 by the UNM Health Sciences Center and the U.S. Attorneys Office in response to the national opioid epidemic, which has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico. Biden has been under attack from congressional Republicans who argue that his administration has been weak on drug enforcement. A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2014. AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Three people have been arrested after a traffic stop in New Mexico led agents to a drug bust in Amarillo. Jose Nolberto Bernal was one of 10 people arrested last week for allegedly distributing controlled substances, according to a Nov. 2 U.S. Department of Justice news release. June 29, 2021, 4:59 PM PDT By Gabe Gutierrez and Al Henkel EL PASO, Texas Federal agents in this section of the southern border say they've seen a staggering 4,000 percent increase in fentanyl. He refused to let it end in Game 7, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Briseo-Lopez has yet to be arrested and is considered a fugitive. And at least 12 gang-related homicides have resulted in federal murder charges. It is the duty and responsibility of the community to watch-out for each other.. The investigation concluded this morning with an early morning, multi-agency law enforcement operation which included the execution of arrest warrants in New Mexico and Texas, and the execution of six search warrants at locations in El Paso, Tex., Sunland Park, N.M., Belen, N.M., and Albuquerque, N.M. Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney and Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEAs El Paso Division announced the results of the investigation this afternoon during a press conference in Las Cruces, N.M. Ryan Rodriguezs sister, Andrea Rodriguez, allegedly delivered drugs to customers on Ryan Rodriguezs behalf. DEA-Led Investigation Included Seizures of 30 Kilograms of Heroin, 64 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, 17 Kilograms of Cocaine, 20 Kilograms of Marijuana, 24 Firearms, $102,000 in Currency and Three Vehicle. The maximum penalty on conviction is from five to 40 years in prison. Criminal Complaint in United States v. Reyes, et al., 17-MJ-1042-SMV. Feel free to contact us or use our A to Z page to find an alphabetical list of pages and services available on this site. An indictment is only an accusation. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Friday, federal and local law enforcement announced the results of an operation in southeast New Mexico that. Feds announce string of Bay Area drug-trafficking busts tied to Sinaloa Cartel Four multi-agency investigations yield 15 criminal cases with 44 defendants, highlighted by Sunnyvale bust that . A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Mexican traffickers, however, have long recruited Americans for the job. The September bust led to one person facing federal charges. There was at least one arrest for child abuse as well. All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In the September 1 bust, the FBI partnered with local police and other federal agents to seize the large quantity of fentanyl. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. John Seibel, 25, Robert Pettit, 51, and Barbara Dockery, 64, all of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court today for their parts in a drug trafficking organization run by Seibel (the Seibel DTO). Data from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Quintana-Arias manifest indicated his trailer contained auto body parts, but anomalies were detected in the trailer by both an X-ray machine and a drug-sniffing dog, according to the complaint. He added: "I requested a little more help in that regard. Learn more about the New Mexico HOPE Initiative at, Rio Rancho Man Charged with Possession of Destructive Devices, Artistas Asesinos Cartel leader sentenced to 27 years for drug trafficking, Prison escapee sentenced to 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge resulting from shooting of Farmington Police Officer. Each location has its own hours of operation, and a unique set of services. De Santiago was arrested this morning in Sunland Park. The statutory penalty for a conviction on this count is imprisonment for not less than ten years or more than life and a $10 million fine. A lock ( According to court records, Seibel, assisted by his co-conspirators included Pettit and Dockery, allegedly sold blues, which are counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, as well as fentanyl pills manufactured in Albuquerque using a pill press machine. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office said Friday that Terry Ingram, 54, of Phoenix is accused of violating parole and has been charged with multiple counts of trafficking and possession with intent to distribute. The criminal complaint charges Jose Fernando Lucero, 24, of Las Cruces, N.M., with conspiracy and possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute. Legal Statement. Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative. Santa Clara: Investigation underway into attempted bank robbery, Pleasanton: Suspects sought in fatal stabbing during robbery attempt, Attacks on delivery drivers add to gig workers fears, Search for missing Oklahoma teens leads to house, 7 dead, U.S. Attorneys office announced that 1,000, Harriette Cole: My friend's mom didn't recognize me at my job, and she was very rude. Market data provided by Factset. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Brittney Griner says shell only play overseas again if its the Olympics These cases are great examples of how local, county, state and federal agencies are working with State District Attorneys and the U.S. Attorney to prosecute those responsible for their crimes. In addition, the Las Cruces and El Paso offices of Homeland Security Investigations, Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office, Las Cruces Police Department and Sunland Park Police Department participated in todays law enforcement operation. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Overdoses from synthetic opioids like fentanyl have soared inthe United States, and fentanyl accountsfor the majority of synthetic opioid deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Count 41 charges a defendant with carrying and possessing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. But the suspect deputies say had. Crime and Public Safety | A 28-year-old Kent man was among 16 indicted after arrests over the last 10 days as part of a multistate methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution ring. This time, investigators tailed suspected drug dealers and pulled them over when they were believed to have methamphetamine in their cars. The maximum statutory penalty for a conviction on each of these counts is imprisonment for four years and a $250,000 fine. The Sheriff's Office says a U.S. In addition to the drugs, authorities recovered several guns from the suspected stash house in San Jose, according to prosecutors. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Most illegal drugs in the U.S., particularly narcotics, enter at the southern border. This undated photo provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows seized drug bundles containing 132 pounds of methamphetamine on display from Feb. 25, 2021, at the Laredo port of entry. Detention hearings for each defendant are scheduled for June 21. In January 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Dallas division reported the largest methamphetamine and heroin seizure in the branch's history. We are honored to work hand in hand with our federal partners, the DEA and the U.S. Attorneys Office in achieving the ultimate goal of keeping our streets safe., Doa Ana County Sheriff Enrique Vigil said, I can say with confidence that our local law-enforcement agencies are committed to doing all that we can to bring fugitives to justice, and will continue working together to make our great state of New Mexico a safe place. . They believe those drugs were purchased from a supplier in San Diego. Twenty-three of the 28 defendants are charged in a 44-count indictment, three are charged in two separate criminal complaints, and two will be charged in criminal complaints being filed today. "This was long overdue," Martinez said. Former acting ICE director Tom Homan on the migrant surge and the number of illegal border crossings is unprecedented.. Deputies and members of an FBI task force seized about 18,000 pills along with meth, heroin and other substances after getting a tip Ingram would regularly travel from Arizona to New Mexico with . The information that led to Thursdays bust stemmed from a recent gang intelligence operation. Ask Amy: My fiancee's family says I'm not invited, and she's going without me, Ask Amy: I put a security camera in my room, and what I saw was creepy, The dad whose wife and child were among 5 killed by a neighbor in Texas describes how the massacre unfolded, 'Total dominance': Steph Curry breaks NBA Game 7 record, leads Warriors over Kings, Dear Abby: The reason her fiance hid his phone was something she never guessed, Mortgage fees to rise for buyers with high credit scores, fall for those with lower scores, Kurtenbach: Steph Curry built the Warriors dynasty. Friday, May 7, 2021. The 2018 investigation was halted after two such tracking devices were discovered, and in November 2020, the drug rings alleged leader, Daniel Noe Verduzco-Ramirez, discovered a device on his car, authorities say. Count 12 charges certain defendants with possession with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base. Related Articles Criminal Complaint in United States v. Jose Fernando Lucero, 17-MJ-617-GJF. Law enforcement officials and drug trafficking experts say the border rules put in place in April 2020 to curb the spread of the coronavirus and their lopsided enforcement are driving the rise in U.S. citizens involved in borderland drug busts. PUBLISHED: February 12, 2021 at 1:17 p.m. | UPDATED: February 12, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. A state, federal and local investigation has busted a Colorado drug and money laundering ring with ties to . The statutory penalty for a conviction on the charges in the complaint is imprisonment for not less than ten years nor more than life and a $10 million fine. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? Eloy Romero was convicted on one count each of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of Cruz Lopez-Acevedo was sentenced to 14 years in prison. And so they get caught up with somebody that knows somebody from a Mexican organization, and they offer the money to get involved into this type of activity.". U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico, DTO Allegedly Imported Large Quantities of Heroin, Methamphetamine and Cocaine from Mexico, which were Distributed in New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky and Illinois, Federal Domestic Violence Statutes and Elements for Prosecution, Twenty-Eight Alleged Members of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking and International Money Laundering Offenses, Today law enforcement in New Mexico and West Texas has dealt a severe blow to a drug trafficking organization with ties to a Mexican drug cartel, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Glaspy. In addition to the 650 pounds of methamphetamine, federal authorities seized 15 pounds of heroin, prosecutors said in court papers. Working in partnership with the DEA, the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative, Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC), the Albuquerque Public Schools and other community stakeholders, HOPEs principal goals are to protect our communities from the dangers associated with heroin and opioid painkillers and reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in New Mexico. Opioid addiction has taken a toll on public safety, public health and the economic viability of our communities. Why California bills to crack down on fentanyl dealers have been doomed in the state Legislature The drug bust was the latest step in Operation Atonement, an FBI operation aimed at dismantling the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico (SNM) prison gang. Dockery is charged in a criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Crime and Public Safety | Federal agents arrested them Feb. 27 Thursday with assistance from state and local law enforcement. An official website of the United States government. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico, Federal Domestic Violence Statutes and Elements for Prosecution, Members of Albuquerque drug trafficking organization charged with possessing, trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl, Artistas Asesinos Cartel leader sentenced to 27 years for drug trafficking, Federal jury convicts Albuquerque man of drug trafficking offenses and federal firearm violation, Mexican drug trafficker sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. The indictment also charges certain defendants with engaging in a series of substantive drug trafficking and money laundering offenses, and using communication devices (telephones) to facilitate their criminal activities. Officials found the packages of drugs inside the trailer, which also contained a few automotive body parts, the complaint said. He denied knowing which Mexican criminal organization recruited Mendoza, who had been working in construction. Gonzalo Dominguez-Cuellar, 24, of Sunland Park, N.M., was arrested this morning and will be charged by criminal complaint with participating in the drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies charged in the indictment. Agents also seized $12,000 in cash, 30 pounds of marijuana, three guns and "personal use" amounts of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, Apodaca said.
