Albuquerque Meth Dealer Leo Lopez Faces 5 Years

ALBUQUERQUE – Leo Lopez, 27, of Albuquerque, N.M., admitted today to running meth on the streets, entering a guilty plea in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge. The deal struck between prosecutors and Lopez recommends 60 months behind bars, followed by a period of supervised release determined by the judge. This isn’t a slap on the wrist, but it’s a far cry from the years of misery his product peddling caused.

Lopez wasn’t working alone. He, along with Felix Ulibarri, 39, Joseph Sena, 40, and Jennifer Padilla, 39, were snared in a massive ATF-led operation that hauled in 59 federal indictments and a criminal complaint against a staggering 104 Bernalillo County residents. The investigation, launched in mid-April 2016, brought in ATF agents from across the country, partnering with local, state, and federal forces to tackle the escalating violent crime choking Albuquerque. Undercover work, digging into past offenses, and a relentless focus on repeat felons packing heat fueled the probe.

This wasn’t a random crackdown. It was part of a larger, federal anti-violence initiative designed to lock up “the worst of the worst.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office, alongside federal agencies, teamed up with New Mexico District Attorneys and local law enforcement, specifically targeting repeat offenders with lengthy criminal histories. The goal? To get these individuals off the streets for as long as legally possible, and reclaim some semblance of peace for the community. Lopez is just one piece of this larger, ongoing effort.

The initial indictment against Ulibarri on July 28, 2016, charged him with distributing methamphetamine on July 11, 2016. Just weeks later, on August 9, 2016, the indictment was broadened to include Lopez, Sena, and Padilla. The revised charges alleged that Ulibarri and Padilla conspired to distribute meth in July 2016, while Lopez, Sena, and Padilla were involved in a separate conspiracy during the same month. Sena was also specifically charged with distributing methamphetamine on July 26, 2016. All of this dirty business allegedly went down in Bernalillo County.

During today’s court proceedings, Lopez confessed to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and admitted his role in arranging a deal on July 26, 2016, involving Sena, Padilla, and himself. He’s currently locked up, awaiting a sentencing hearing that has yet to be scheduled. While Lopez has copped a plea, Ulibarri, Sena, and Padilla maintain their innocence, having entered not guilty pleas. So far, 32 of the 104 defendants have pled guilty, with three already sentenced. Remember, these are just accusations until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Albuquerque office of the ATF spearheaded the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Han handling the prosecution. This case serves as a grim reminder that the drug trade continues to fuel violence and despair in Albuquerque, and law enforcement is working – albeit slowly – to dismantle the networks responsible. Expect more indictments and convictions to come as this massive case continues to unfold.