Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Meth Trafficking

Albuquerque’s streets just lost another major drug player. Willie Griffin, 44, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court to distributing methamphetamine, copping to a five-year federal prison sentence and a yet-to-be-determined term of supervised release.

Griffin admitted during his change of plea hearing that on May 2, 2016, he distributed over 50 grams of methamphetamine—a high-volume deal that federal prosecutors say marks him as a key supplier in a broader narcotics network. He remains in custody as the court prepares for sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

The case stems from a sweeping ATF-led investigation launched in April 2016, targeting violent crime hotspots across Bernalillo County. The probe pulled in federal, state, and local agencies, deploying undercover operations and intelligence-driven tactics to dismantle drug and gun trafficking rings. The crackdown yielded 59 indictments and one criminal complaint, charging 104 individuals.

Griffin was first indicted on April 27, 2016, and May 2, 2016, for meth distribution. That charge was later upgraded to a superseding indictment on July 28, 2016, adding conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between April and July 2016. He was charged alongside co-defendant Gonzalo Revet, 48, also of Albuquerque, who has pleaded not guilty and is set for trial in December 2016.

The investigation operates under a federal anti-violence initiative focused on the ‘worst of the worst’—targeting repeat offenders with extensive criminal histories. By leveraging federal sentencing laws, authorities aim to lock up high-risk individuals for extended periods, disrupting cycles of violence and drug distribution across New Mexico communities.

To date, 12 of the 104 defendants charged in the operation have pleaded guilty. The rest maintain their innocence. The case was jointly investigated by the ATF and DEA in Albuquerque and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman Cairns. Charges are accusations; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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