ALBUQUERQUE – The hard-hitting crime of methamphetamine trafficking landed Salvador Ortega, 36, from Las Cruces, N.M., behind bars as he was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. This sentence came after a federal court conviction for his role in the drug trade.
Ortega, along with co-defendants Guillermo Ortega, 43, and Steven Roman, 28, were charged with methamphetamine trafficking offenses in a four-count indictment filed on June 18, 2014. The charges stemmed from their activities in Doña Ana County, N.M., including the distribution of the drug and possession of firearms by Guillermo Ortega.
On Jan. 21, 2016, Salvador Ortega pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the indictment without a plea agreement. His co-defendant, Steven Roman, admitted distributing 57 grams of methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement on April 2, 2014. Roman was sentenced in May 2016 to 77 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.
Guillermo Ortega, who also faced a firearms charge, pleaded guilty on Sept. 3, 2015. He admitted distributing 95 grams of methamphetamine with his co-defendants and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction. Guillermo’s sentencing hearing is pending, with a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison at stake.
This gritty case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is handling the prosecution. The sentences handed down today mark a significant victory for law enforcement in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.
Stay tuned to Grimy Times for more updates on this high-profile case involving the drug kingpin Salvador Ortega.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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