New Mexico Man Convicted of Trafficking 529 Grams of Meth, Possessing Firearms

ALBUQUERQUE – In a swift verdict, a federal jury found 37-year-old Octavio Jimenez-Marquez guilty of trafficking 529 grams of methamphetamine and possessing firearms, a move that could land him behind bars for up to life.

The guilty verdict came just 22 minutes into deliberations, underscoring the overwhelming evidence presented against Jimenez-Marquez. According to court documents and evidence, on February 22, 2022, Albuquerque Police Department Officers responded to a stolen vehicle call in Southeast Albuquerque, where they encountered Jimenez-Marquez and two others inside a pick-up truck matching the description given by the calling party.

As officers gave commands for Jimenez-Marquez to get on the ground, he complied, and after placing him under arrest, officers conducted an inventory search of the vehicle. During the search, they discovered a large vacuum-sealed package containing 445 grams of methamphetamine and a stolen firearm underneath the driver’s seat, as well as an assault rifle within arm’s reach of Jimenez-Marquez.

The truck also contained a Ziplock bag with 84 grams of methamphetamine. When questioned about the firearms and drugs, Jimenez-Marquez claimed he had borrowed the truck from a friend but was unable to provide the friend’s name or any further information. He further admitted to possessing a rifle inside the truck but insisted that the guns and drugs were not his.

However, subsequent investigation uncovered evidence on Jimenez-Marquez’s cell phones consistent with drug-trafficking activity and firearm possession. Investigators also learned that Jimenez-Marquez was born in Mexico and never sought or obtained legal status in the United States. His subsequent release to a halfway house in March 2022 proved short-lived, as he absconded from supervision in July 2022, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.

Jimenez-Marquez was re-arrested in Albuquerque in December 2022. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division, made the announcement today. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department and the Albuquerque Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis Mattei and Elaine Y. Ramirez prosecuted the case. At sentencing, Jimenez-Marquez faces a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by drug trafficking and the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in combating these crimes.