ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Devell Devoual, 35, of Albuquerque, N.M., took a deal today, admitting guilt in federal court to a charge of methamphetamine trafficking. The plea comes after a sprawling investigation that snared dozens of Bernalillo County residents, many already with lengthy criminal records. Devoual now faces a potential 20-year stretch in federal prison.
The case against Devoual, along with co-defendants Dwayne Cunningham, 49, and Cedric Laneham, 39, was born from a massive, ATF-led operation launched in April 2016. The feds descended on Albuquerque, joining forces with local, state, and tribal law enforcement to address the city’s soaring violent crime rates. Investigators employed a range of tactics – undercover work, digging into past offenses, and focusing on repeat felons illegally packing firearms.
This wasn’t just a drug bust; it was part of a broader federal initiative designed to lock up “the worst of the worst.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office, alongside federal agencies, partnered with New Mexico District Attorneys to target violent and repeat offenders, aiming to keep them off the streets for as long as possible based on their existing rap sheets. It’s a strategy focused on removing problems, not just patching them.
Devoual and his crew were initially indicted in July 2016, accused of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine between May 16 and June 2, 2016. The indictment specifically alleged Devoual and Laneham distributed the drug on May 17, while Devoual and Cunningham possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute on June 2. All activity, according to court documents, took place within Bernalillo County.
During today’s proceedings, Devoual admitted to distributing over 50 grams of methamphetamine on May 17, 2016. He remains in custody, awaiting a sentencing hearing that hasn’t been scheduled yet. Cunningham, a co-defendant, has already entered a guilty plea. Eighteen of the 104 original defendants have been sentenced so far, while Laneham maintains a not guilty plea.
The ATF’s Albuquerque office spearheaded the investigation, and the prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Walsh and Norman Cairns. It’s a slow grind, but the feds are methodically working through the cases. Remember, an indictment is just an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But for Devoual, the game appears to be over.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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