ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Gerald Anthony Lopez, 19, of Deming, New Mexico, is staring down a potential quarter-century in federal prison after allegedly peddling cocaine and an illegally modified firearm to an undercover operative. The case, laid bare in court documents, reveals a brazen disregard for the law and a willingness to supply the streets with both narcotics and firepower. Lopez is currently in custody pending sentencing.
The first case unfolded on February 11, 2025. An undercover agent initiated a controlled buy, successfully purchasing cocaine from Lopez. During the transaction, Lopez allegedly flaunted a firearm equipped with an extended magazine and a Machine Gun Conversion Device (MCD). He offered the weapon for $1,300 with the MCD attached, or $1,000 without, and chillingly indicated his ability to source more weapons, conversion devices, and narcotics. A follow-up meeting on February 20th saw Lopez complete the sale of both cocaine and the modified firearm for the agreed-upon $1,300. He reportedly demonstrated the operation of the illegal switch, confirming the 30-round extended magazine was fully loaded.
Lopez now faces a quartet of serious federal charges: possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a machinegun, possession of an unregistered machinegun, and possession of a firearm which was not identified by a serial number. A conviction on these counts could land him up to 25 years behind bars. These aren’t minor infractions; they represent a deliberate effort to arm criminals and profit from the misery of addiction.
But the trouble didn’t end there. A separate federal case has emerged from an incident on May 6, 2025, at the Interstate 10 Border Patrol checkpoint. After initially consenting to a canine search – prompted by the odor of cannabis emanating from his vehicle – Lopez allegedly made a desperate, high-speed run for it when directed to secondary inspection. Border Patrol agents swiftly pursued and apprehended him on Highway 549 near Ventura Road.
This reckless flight from law enforcement has resulted in additional charges for high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint. If convicted on this count, Lopez could add another five years to his potential sentence. The Border Patrol isn’t messing around, and neither are federal prosecutors. This wasn’t just a traffic violation; it was a deliberate attempt to evade the law and potentially smuggle contraband across the border.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, alongside Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber of the ATF’s Phoenix Field Division, and Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, announced these charges today. The ATF, with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, investigated the firearms offenses, while the Border Patrol is handling the immigration-related case. The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. The proliferation of illegal machine gun conversion devices is a clear and present danger, and law enforcement is working tirelessly to stem the tide. Anyone with information regarding illegal firearms is urged to contact the ATF immediately.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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