Related Federal Cases
- Albuquerque Couple Guilty of Drug Smuggling & Money Laundering · New Mexico
- Albuquerque Drug Kingpin Pleads Guilty to Cocaine, Money Laundering · New Mexico
- Albuquerque Drug Kingpin Pleads Guilty to Meth Distribution · New Mexico
- Las Cruces Drug Kingpin Pleads Guilty to Trafficking · New Mexico
- Albuquerque Drug Kingpin Reynaldo Griego Sentenced to Decade Behind Bars · New Mexico
Prescription Drug Trafficking Scheme Uncovered in Albuquerque
Two Albuquerque residents, Yvonne Garcia, 54, and Gerald Roberts, 49, have been arrested on a federal indictment alleging prescription drug trafficking charges. The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, also includes Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of DEA’s El Paso Division and Chief Patrick Gallagher of the Santa Fe Police Department.
According to the indictment, Garcia and Roberts distributed prescription drugs, including oxycodone, oxymorphone, and alprazolam, on eight separate occasions between May 2016 and September 2016 in Santa Fe and Bernalillo counties. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $15,500 in proceeds of their alleged drug trafficking scheme and three vehicles.
If convicted, Garcia and Roberts face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Charges in indictments are merely accusations, and criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation was led by the Tactical Diversion Squad of the DEA in Albuquerque and the Santa Fe Police Department. The DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squads combine DEA resources with those of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to investigate and dismantle suspected prescription drug trafficking operations.
Garcia and Roberts are currently being held in custody pending arraignment and detention hearings scheduled for Friday morning. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shana B. Long and Peter Eicker are prosecuting the case as part of the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.
The HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 to combat the national opioid epidemic, which has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico. The initiative aims to protect communities from the dangers associated with heroin and opioid painkillers and reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the state.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News