Jaime Lopez Sentenced

A previously convicted felon, Jaime Lopez, 35, was sentenced to 96 months in prison after agents recovered fentanyl and a stolen firearm during an attempted arrest in Las Cruces.

According to court records, on May 21, 2024, FBI task force officers and Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics agents attempted to stop a vehicle associated with an ongoing investigation into fentanyl trafficking. The driver, later identified as Jaime Lopez, fled at a high rate of speed, and officers did not pursue due to public safety concerns.

Agents later determined the vehicle had recently been purchased by Lopez and that he was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear. Approximately three hours later, agents located the vehicle again in Las Cruces and observed Lopez exit a public establishment with two other individuals. As officers approached, Lopez fled on foot, discarding a package later found to contain approximately 690 fentanyl pills.

Officers pursued and arrested Lopez a short time later. Agents recovered a stolen handgun from a backpack inside the vehicle. In a post-arrest interview, Lopez admitted he fled because of the outstanding warrant and discarded the pills to avoid getting caught with them. He also admitted to possessing the firearm for protection, stating that he had previously sold drugs in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and feared retaliation from former associates.

At the time of the offense, Lopez was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions, including a 2005 conviction for second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder. Lopez subsequently pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Upon his release from prison, Lopez will be subject to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics, the Las Cruces Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Y. Armijo prosecuted the case.

The sentence handed down to Lopez is a significant step in the ongoing effort to combat fentanyl trafficking in New Mexico. The dangers of fentanyl are well-documented, and law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to disrupt the supply chain and bring those responsible to justice. The cooperation between federal, state, and local agencies in this case is a testament to the commitment to public safety and the determination to hold offenders accountable.

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