FARMINGTON, NM – Stephen Dye, 43, of Farmington, is facing a mountain of federal charges after a raid on his home turned up a drug stash, stolen weaponry, and a whole lot of trouble. The bust comes while Dye was already on supervised release for a 2019 federal firearms conviction – proving a criminal record is no deterrent for some.
On June 13, 2025, agents with the Region Two Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant at Dye’s Farmington residence. What they found wasn’t a surprise to anyone familiar with Dye’s history: approximately 177 grams of methamphetamine, suspected fentanyl pills, digital scales, packaging materials, and $816 in cash. But the real kicker? Multiple firearms and ammunition, including a loaded handgun reported stolen and a modified rifle equipped with high-capacity magazines.
Dye has a lengthy rap sheet, with prior felony convictions in both New Mexico and Texas for firearm and drug trafficking offenses. Those convictions already stripped him of the right to possess firearms or ammunition, a rule he apparently ignored. He was on federal supervised release when agents kicked in his door, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law and a continued commitment to criminal activity.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment on July 22, 2025, charging Dye with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of fentanyl, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charges are serious, and the potential penalties are even more so.
Dye will remain in custody pending trial, which has yet to be scheduled. If convicted on all counts, he’s looking at a sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the charges today, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat violent crime in the region.
The investigation was led by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, with support from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. This case is part of “Summer Heat,” a nationwide FBI initiative focused on aggressively tackling violent crime by surging resources, executing warrants, and dismantling violent gangs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and Dye is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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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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