Luis Abelardo Ibarra Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Possession and Distri…

Luis Abelardo Ibarra, a 36-year-old man from Fort Worth, Texas, has admitted his role in a major cocaine trafficking scheme that led to the seizure of over ten pounds of cocaine. Ibarra pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., for conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine with intent to sell.

The U.S. Border Patrol’s checkpoint inspection in Luna County, N.M., resulted in the confiscation of the drug and its subsequent arrest of Ibarra and his co-defendant, Claudio M. Martinez, Jr. Ibarra, who faces a mandatory minimum of six years in prison, also agreed to forfeit $12,878 seized during the checkpoint.

Ibarra and Martinez were originally charged with possession of approximately 4.76 kilograms (10.49 pounds) of cocaine, along with cash and drug paraphernalia, back in May 2013. Both men were indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine in August of that year.

In addition to the prison sentence, Ibarra will be under supervised release once his time is served. Martinez, who was also sentenced to six years in prison and five years of supervised release in September 2014, has already been processed through the justice system.

This case was a joint effort between the DEA’s Las Cruces office and the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong is handling the prosecution for the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.

Ibarra remains in custody until his sentencing hearing is scheduled, which could further illuminate the scope of this drug trafficking operation that spanned state lines and federal jurisdiction.

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