ALBUQUERQUE – Jessica Hofer, 26, of Albuquerque, N.M., will spend the next four years behind bars after being sentenced in federal court for trafficking methamphetamine. Hofer received 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, a penalty handed down for her role in a larger drug and firearms operation that’s swept through Bernalillo County.
The sentence comes after Hofer pled guilty in December 2016 to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Court records show she admitted to selling more than 50 grams of the drug – boasting a staggering 99% purity level – to an undercover agent on June 2, 2016. Her co-defendant, Cody Castillo, 31, previously received a harsher sentence of 84 months in January 2017 for the same methamphetamine trafficking charges.
The pair were snared during “Operation Clean Sweep,” an ATF-led investigation that indicted 59 individuals and filed a federal criminal complaint against an additional 45, totaling 104 Bernalillo County residents. The massive sweep targeted federal firearms and narcotics offenses, launched in mid-April 2016 as a direct response to the escalating violent crime rates plaguing the Albuquerque metro area. Investigators employed a range of tactics, from classic undercover work to historical investigations and a focus on repeat offenders already carrying firearms.
Federal prosecutors framed the operation as part of a broader anti-violence initiative designed to lock up “the worst of the worst.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office is collaborating with New Mexico District Attorneys and local law enforcement to prioritize the federal prosecution of violent and repeat offenders, aiming to keep them off the streets for as long as possible. The goal isn’t simply punishment, but long-term community safety, officials say.
Hofer and Castillo’s arrests in July 2016 marked a significant step in the sprawling investigation. To date, 32 of the 104 defendants have entered guilty pleas, with five receiving sentences. The remaining defendants maintain their innocence, and face a legal battle ahead. It’s crucial to remember that these indictments represent accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Albuquerque office of the ATF spearheaded the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Eva M. Fontanez handling the prosecution. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle against drug trafficking and violent crime in Albuquerque, and the federal resources being deployed to combat it. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the outcomes of the remaining indictments.
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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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