John Wayne Hargrove, Marijuana Trafficking, New Mexico 2016

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - In a federal trial, a New Mexico jury found John Wayne Hargrove, 57, of Pearce, Arizona, guilty on marijuana trafficking charges.

Hargrove was arrested on February 8, 2016, along with Janelle Richter, 57, also of Pearce, Arizona, Edgar Antonio Silvas-Hinojos, 28, a Mexican national illegally in the United States, and three other Mexican nationals.

The defendants were charged with conspiracy and possession of 135.11 kilograms (297.25 pounds) of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Hargrove faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years and maximum of 40 years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Richter pled guilty on August 2, 2016, and remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing where she also faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years and maximum of 40 years in federal prison.

The seven Mexican nationals, who were also charged in the case, have entered guilty pleas and will be deported after completing any prison sentences imposed on them.

The evidence at trial established that U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Hargrove and Richter at 10:45 p.m. on February 8, 2016, as the two were trying to hide inside of Hargrove's truck, which was parked near an abandoned building in the desert off of Highway 80 near the Arizona/New Mexico border.

The agents also found Silvas-Hinojos, who was wearing camouflage clothing, trying to hide in the back of the truck. The agents seized six bundles containing almost 300 pounds of marijuana from the truck.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/federal-jury-finds-arizona-man-guilty-marijuana-trafficking-charges-new-mexico