Albuquerque Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Daniel Griego, 31, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his cocaine trafficking conviction.

Griego was arrested in July 2016, after selling approximately 507 grams of cocaine to an individual working with law enforcement. He pleaded guilty to the indictment on September 2, 2016.

Griego’s case is one of 59 federal indictments and one federal criminal complaint filed in connection with a multi-agency investigation into narcotics and firearms trafficking in Bernalillo County. The investigation, led by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), resulted in the arrest of 104 individuals.

Robert Henry Lovato, 44, entered a guilty plea to a methamphetamine trafficking charge in connection with the same investigation. Under a plea agreement, Lovato will be sentenced to 48 months in prison. A sentencing hearing for Lovato has yet to be scheduled.

The investigation, which began in April 2016, targeted ‘the worst of the worst’ offenders for federal prosecution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborated with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution.

To date, 29 of the 104 defendants have entered guilty pleas, and three have been sentenced. The remaining defendants have entered not guilty pleas. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh prosecuted the case against Griego, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley is prosecuting the case against Lovato.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Drug Trafficking

Armstead William Craig, Distribution of Cocaine Base, West Virginia 2019

Sep 13, 2021

Drug Trafficking

Carinda M. Blair, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, Nebraska 2025

Jun 17, 2025

Drug Trafficking

Jesus Martinez Salazar, Meth Conspiracy, Minnesota 2024

Apr 8, 2026

Drug Trafficking

Paulette M. Alt, Cocaine Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2013

Mar 25, 2016