ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Gabriel “Karma” Blea, 25, is headed to federal prison for 15 years after pleading guilty to a trio of federal charges related to a half-pound meth-for-guns deal gone bad. The ATF busted Blea last year during a sting operation, revealing a dangerous network of firearms and narcotics flowing through Albuquerque streets.
According to court documents, Blea attempted to trade approximately half a pound of methamphetamine for five firearms in May 2021. He didn’t know the individuals he was meeting were undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Blea arrived at the meeting, driven by co-defendant Gabriel Villasenor, with the drugs stashed in a backpack and a loaded .45 caliber pistol tucked into his waistband. The ensuing arrest of Blea was followed by a brief chase to apprehend Villasenor.
This wasn’t Blea’s first brush with the law. He’s a previously convicted felon, adding another layer to the severity of the crimes. But the trouble didn’t end with the initial arrest. Just a month later, on June 4, 2021, Blea brazenly fled from federal custody, attempting to evade prosecution and sentencing. That flight only added to his problems and ultimately didn’t change the outcome.
Villasenor, also a previously convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, entered a guilty plea on September 2, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He’s looking at a 92 to 115-month sentence, with his sentencing scheduled for January 12, 2023. The pair’s combined actions demonstrate a clear disregard for the law and a willingness to endanger the community.
U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Alexander M.M. Uballez, announced the sentencing of Blea on November 8, 2022. The investigation was a joint effort between the ATF and the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal led the prosecution. Blea will face five years of supervised release upon his eventual release from prison.
The case highlights the ATF’s ongoing efforts to disrupt drug and firearms trafficking networks in New Mexico. While 15 years won’t undo the damage Blea inflicted, it sends a clear message: dealing drugs and illegally possessing firearms carries significant consequences, especially when you’re already a convicted felon trying to skirt the system.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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