James H. Lewis, Methamphetamine Trafficking, New Mexico 2015
In a major blow to the region's war on drugs, James H. Lewis, 51, of Roswell, N.M., pled guilty to methamphetamine trafficking charges in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M. on an undisclosed date. Lewis, one of 41 individuals charged in September 2015, with drug trafficking offenses as a result of an eight-month multi-agency investigation, admitted to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in Chaves County from June 2015 through July 31, 2015.
The investigation, which was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, initially targeted a drug trafficking organization (DTO) led by Joseph Ray Mendiola, 35, that distributed methamphetamine in Chaves County. It later expanded to include drug traffickers who supplied methamphetamine to the Mendiola DTO and other drug traffickers operating in Chaves County.
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers executed 14 federal search warrants for 10 residences in Roswell, one residence in Dexter, N.M., and three vehicles. The officers seized approximately 5600 grams of methamphetamine, $35,960.00 in cash, and multiple firearms including two assault rifles.
As part of his plea agreement, Lewis admitted conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in Chaves County from June 2015 through July 31, 2015. He also admitted to receiving a bag containing approximately seven pounds of methamphetamine from his co-defendants on July 31, 2015. At sentencing, Lewis faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
The federal cases were investigated by the Roswell office of FBI's Albuquerque Division, the Las Cruces office of DEA, Roswell Police Department, Chaves County Sheriff’s Office, the Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force, the New Mexico State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy M. Castellano and John Balla are prosecuting the federal cases.
In a statement, officials praised the collaborative efforts of local law enforcement agencies in disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations. The HIDTA Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Roswell Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and the Chaves County Sherriff’s Office.
With this guilty plea, the court has taken a significant step in holding accountable those who engage in methamphetamine trafficking. As the region continues to grapple with the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic, it is essential that we prioritize efforts to disrupt and dismantle these organizations.
James H. Lewis, Defendant's Full Name, faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Lewis, a resident of Roswell, N.M., was charged with conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is the final of the 21 federal defendants to enter a guilty plea to federal charges.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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