Anthony Margarito Berumen, Methamphetamine Trafficking, New Mexico 2016

Las Cruces Man Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – In a shocking turn of events, Anthony Margarito Berumen, 32, of Las Cruces, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 42 months in prison followed by six years of supervised release for his conviction on methamphetamine trafficking charges.

The crimes, which took place in December 2015, involved Berumen selling a total of 4.6 grams of methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement agents during three transactions. The transactions occurred on December 9, 2015, December 15, 2015, and December 16, 2015, according to court records.

Berumen was arrested on February 9, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The complaint alleged that Berumen committed the crimes in Dona Ana County, N.M.

The case took a dramatic turn when Berumen was indicted on August 17, 2016, and charged with three counts of distributing methamphetamine. The indictment was superseded on September 22, 2016, charging Berumen with distributing methamphetamine on December 9, 2015, and December 16, 2015, and distributing methamphetamine in the vicinity of a school on December 9, 2015.

Berumen’s guilty plea on January 12, 2017, marked a significant turning point in the case. In entering the guilty plea, Berumen admitted selling methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement on three occasions in December 2015. He also acknowledged that one of the drug transactions took place in a middle school parking lot in Las Cruces.

The investigation was led by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the New Mexico State Police, with the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office handling the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Balla and Sarah M. Davenport secured the conviction, ensuring that Berumen would face the consequences of his actions.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle against methamphetamine trafficking in New Mexico. As the state continues to grapple with the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic, the conviction of Berumen sends a clear message that those involved in the illicit trade will be held accountable.

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