Anthony Calderon Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Methamphetamine Traffi…

Anthony Calderon, 40, a notorious drug trafficker from Las Cruces, N.M., entered a guilty plea in federal court on Thursday afternoon, admitting to the distribution of over 75 grams of heroin and nearly 102 grams of methamphetamine. This admission comes as part of his plea agreement that stipulates an imprisonment term ranging from 24 to 36 months.

Calderon’s downfall began on August 8, 2014, when he was arrested following a federal indictment charging him with two counts of distributing heroin and one count of distributing methamphetamine within Doña Ana County. His co-defendant, Orlando Roman, 34, was also charged with heroin distribution, leading to his own arrest on October 9, 2014.

During today’s hearing, Calderon confessed to distributing the illegal substances under the watchful eye of law enforcement on two separate occasions: April 15 and April 16, 2014. He admitted to handing over 75.3 grams of heroin, followed by another 101.1 grams of methamphetamine just a month later.

Roman, however, has maintained his innocence, entering a plea of not guilty. As the adage goes, charges are merely accusations, and Calderon’s guilt will be determined beyond a reasonable doubt before he is found to be truly guilty.

This case was meticulously investigated by the FBI’s Las Cruces office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo leading the prosecution. The case is part of the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative, a collaborative effort aimed at reducing opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.

The HOPE Initiative is a multifaceted approach encompassing prevention, treatment, law enforcement, reentry programs, and strategic planning. Calderon’s conviction aligns with the initiative’s focus on targeting major heroin trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution.

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