Devell Devoual, Methamphetamine Trafficking, New Mexico 2016

ALBUQUERQUE – A 35-year-old Albuquerque man has pleaded guilty to a methamphetamine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Devell Devoual, along with co-defendants Dwayne Cunningham, 49, and Cedric Laneham, 39, were charged as a result of an ATF-led investigation that led to the filing of 59 federal indictments and a federal criminal complaint charging 104 Bernalillo County residents with federal firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses.

The investigation, which began in mid-April 2016, was part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets ‘the worst of the worst’ offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution primarily based on their prior criminal convictions.

Devoual and his co-defendants were arrested in July 2016, on an indictment charging them with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine between May 16, 2016 and June 2, 2016. The indictment also charged Devoual and Laneham with distributing methamphetamine on May 17, 2016; and Devoual and Cunningham with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute on June 2, 2016.

During today’s proceedings, Devoual pleaded guilty to an information charging him with distribution of methamphetamine and admitted distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine on May 17, 2016. At sentencing, Devoual faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

Devoual remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. To date, 51 of the 104 defendants have entered guilty pleas, including Cunningham, and 18 have been sentenced. The remaining defendants, including Laneham, have entered not guilty pleas.

The cases were investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF, and this case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Walsh and Norman Cairns.

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