Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Meth Trafficking Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Josue Duarte, 31, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Duarte and co-defendant Johnny Flores, 23, were arrested during an ATF-led investigation that resulted in the filing of 59 federal indictments and one federal criminal complaint charging 104 Bernalillo County residents with federal firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses.

The investigation began in mid-April 2016, when ATF personnel from throughout the country joined forces with federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies in New Mexico to combat the high rate of violent crime in the Albuquerque metropolitan area.

According to the indictment, Duarte and Flores were charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from July 18, 2016 through July 26, 2016, and distribution of methamphetamine on July 22, 2016.

During today’s proceedings, Duarte pled guilty to a felony information charging him with distribution of methamphetamine. In entering the guilty plea, Duarte admitted that on July 26, 2016, he arranged the sale of and sold methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent.

At sentencing, Duarte faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers. To date, 31 of the 104 defendants, including Flores, have entered guilty pleas, and three defendants have been sentenced. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

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