Hector Ruiz, Methamphetamine Trafficking, New Mexico 2012

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - A Mexican national has been sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in Roswell, New Mexico.

Hector Ruiz, 34, was sentenced late yesterday afternoon in Las Cruces federal court to 188 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction.

Ruiz, who was an undocumented alien illegally in the United States, and his co-defendant Mario Alvarez, also of Roswell, were arrested on Sept. 14, 2012, on a criminal complaint alleging methamphetamine trafficking charges.

A three-count indictment subsequently was filed charging Ruiz and Alvarez with conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and charging Ruiz alone with another count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

The indictment alleged that the offenses were committed in Roswell on Sept. 14, 2012.

According to court filings, on Sept. 14, 2012, the DEA and Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force conducted surveillance of Alvarez in Roswell based on a tip that he was planning to sell a pound of methamphetamine later that day in Artesia.

After officers observed Alvarez meet with Ruiz, they executed a traffic stop on Alvarez's vehicle and recovered a bag containing approximately one pound of methamphetamine hidden under the front passenger seat.

During a post-arrest statement, Alvarez admitted he planned to deliver the methamphetamine to Artesia.

The officers then executed a search warrant at a Roswell residence where they recovered approximately three pounds of methamphetamine and $30,000, which Ruiz admitted belonged to him.

After Ruiz was arrested, he admitted delivering a pound of methamphetamine to Alvarez earlier that day.

Ruiz pled guilty to all three counts of the indictment on June 27, 2013.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/mexican-national-sentenced-more-fifteen-years-trafficking-methamphetamine-roswell