A Las Cruces man has pleaded guilty to federal narcotics trafficking charges in a deal that could see him spend up to 40 years behind bars.
Eddie Gallardo, 31, of Las Cruces, N.M., entered a guilty plea yesterday afternoon in Las Cruces federal court to cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking charges.
The guilty plea was entered pursuant to a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Gallardo was arrested on May 22, 2014 on a criminal complaint charging him with a methamphetamine trafficking charge and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The complaint alleged that on May 13, 2014, Gallardo sold a handgun and methamphetamine to an undercover FBI agent.
At the time, Gallardo was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of a drug trafficking offense.
Gallardo subsequently was charged in a seven-count indictment filed in Aug. 2014.
Counts 1, 2 and 3 of the indictment charged Gallardo with distributing cocaine in Doña Ana County, N.M., on three separate occasions between Aug. 7, 2013 and Oct. 30, 2013.
Counts 3, 5 and 6 charged Gallardo with distributing methamphetamine on three separate occasions between Aug. 2013 and May 2014.
Count 7 charged Gallardo with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
During yesterday’s change of plea hearing, Gallardo pled guilty to Counts 1 through 6 of the indictment.
In entering his guilty plea, Gallardo admitted selling cocaine and methamphetamine to a law enforcement officer who was acting in an undercover capacity between Aug. 7, 2013 and May 13, 2014.
Gallardo has been in federal custody since his arrest.
He remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
At sentencing, Gallardo faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by not less than four years of supervised release.
Eddie Gallardo, 31, of Las Cruces, N.M., faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison for cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking charges.
Eddie Gallardo’s sentencing hearing is yet to be scheduled, but he faces up to 40 years behind bars.
This case is the result of a 15-month investigation by the FBI’s Las Cruces Southwest Border/Safe Streets Task Force and the New Mexico HIDTA Regional Interagency Drug Task Force (Metro Narcotics Task Force).
The investigation identified sources of drug supply in Los Angeles, Calif., Tucson, Ariz., and El Paso, Texas, who were supplying drug traffickers in southern New Mexico with high-grade methamphetamine.
Law enforcement officers seized more than 29 pounds of methamphetamine, 37 pounds of cocaine, 4.5 ounces of heroin, 30 pounds of marijuana, 74 firearms and 17 vehicles during the course of the investigation.
Defendant Information: Eddie Gallardo, 31, of Las Cruces, N.M.
Criminal Charges: Cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking charges.
City and State: Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Arrest Date: May 22, 2014.
Sentence or Outcome: Faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison.
Current Status: Remains detained pending sentencing hearing.
Related Federal Cases
- Miguel Angel Tinajero-Martinez, Methamphetamine and Cocaine Trafficking, New Mexico 2014 · Texas
- Ever Omar Valdez, Cocaine Trafficking, New Mexico 2023 · Kansas
- Jason Harrison, Methamphetamine Trafficking, New Mexico 2023 · Texas
- Candy May Gonzales, Cocaine Trafficking, New Mexico 2017 · Illinois
- Kyle Marshall Hogue, Cocaine Trafficking, New Mexico 2018 · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking