ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Aaron Reed, a 30-year-old man from Grants, New Mexico, has been sentenced to six years and four months in federal prison for attempting to possess contraband in prison.
Reed was one of seven defendants charged in a conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs, including methamphetamine and buprenorphine, inside of the Doña Ana County Detention Center in January 2019.
According to court documents, Reed pleaded guilty on April 2 to attempting to obtain methamphetamine and buprenorphine from another inmate in January 2019. In a plea agreement, Reed admitted that he told an associate he knew a corrections officer willing to bring contraband into the detention center and directed her to pay the corrections officer between $200 and $250.
Reed’s sentencing took place on October 22. Upon his release from prison, he will serve three years of supervised release.
Co-defendants Jose Ignacio Caro, Joe Anthony Garcia, Ashley Silva, Angel Destiny Ortega, Marie Cadney, and Dominic Garcia are also facing charges in connection with the conspiracy. Jose Ignacio Caro pleaded guilty on May 21 to conspiracy to provide contraband in prison and was sentenced to seven years in prison on September 29. Joe Anthony Garcia pleaded guilty on March 11 to attempt to provide contraband in prison and is awaiting sentencing.
The FBI investigated this case in conjunction with the Southern New Mexico Public Corruption Task Force, the Office of Security Threat Intelligence, the Doña Ana County Detention Center, Las Cruces-Doña Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, and the Las Cruces Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Matthew R. Ramirez prosecuted the case, securing a significant sentence for Reed and his co-conspirators.
Reed’s conviction serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a safe and secure environment within our correctional facilities. The efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors in this case have ensured that those who attempt to smuggle contraband into our prisons will face severe consequences.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant’s full name: Aaron Reed. Exact criminal charges: Attempt to Possess Contraband. City and state: Albuquerque, New Mexico. Exact date: January 2019 (crime date), October 22, 2022 (sentencing). Sentence or outcome: Six years and four months in federal prison. Dollar amounts: $200 to $250.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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