ALBUQUERQUE – Dwayne Cunningham, 49, of Albuquerque, N.M., admitted today to peddling methamphetamine, entering a guilty plea in federal court. The deal struck with prosecutors recommends a 60-month stretch behind bars, followed by a period of supervised release determined by the judge. This isn’t just about one dealer; it’s a piece of a much larger crackdown on the city’s violent underbelly.
Cunningham’s downfall came during a massive ATF-led operation dubbed a response to Albuquerque’s soaring violent crime rate. The investigation, launched in mid-April 2016, wasn’t a quick sweep. It was a sustained assault, bringing in ATF agents from across the country and uniting them with local, state, and federal law enforcement. The operation resulted in a staggering 59 federal indictments and a criminal complaint targeting 104 Bernalillo County residents – a clear signal that authorities were aiming to dismantle entire networks dealing in both firearms and narcotics. Investigators employed undercover work, dug into past criminal records, and focused on repeat offenders already carrying firearms.
This case isn’t isolated. It falls under a federal anti-violence initiative explicitly targeting “the worst of the worst.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working hand-in-hand with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and various law enforcement agencies to identify violent and repeat offenders, prioritizing federal prosecution to maximize the time these criminals spend off the streets. The goal is simple: remove the most dangerous elements from New Mexico communities for as long as possible. Cunningham, along with co-defendants Devell Devoual, 35, and Cedric Laneham, 39, became targets in this broader strategy.
All three were arrested in July 2016, facing charges stemming from a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between May 16, 2016, and June 2, 2016. The indictment specifically accused Devoual and Laneham of distributing the drug on May 17, 2016, and both Devoual and Cunningham of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute on June 2, 2016 – all within Bernalillo County. Cunningham’s plea centers around his admission of distributing over 50 grams of methamphetamine on that May 17th date.
While Cunningham awaits sentencing, the larger operation continues to yield results. To date, 46 of the 104 defendants have entered guilty pleas, with 18 already sentenced. Devoual and Laneham, however, maintain their innocence, and the cases against them are ongoing. It’s important to remember that these indictments are accusations, and the presumption of innocence remains until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Albuquerque office of the ATF, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Walsh and Norman Cairns handling the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder that federal agencies are increasingly focused on tackling violent crime and drug trafficking at the source, aiming to dismantle criminal enterprises and bring long-term relief to communities plagued by violence and addiction. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of Cunningham and the progress of the remaining defendants.
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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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