Leon Conaway, 56, of Carlsbad, N.M., stood before a federal judge in Las Cruces today and admitted to trafficking in drug paraphernalia through his smoke shop, Twisted Roots. The plea marks the end of a years-long federal probe into the sale of hundreds of smoking devices explicitly designed for use with illegal narcotics, including methamphetamine and marijuana.
Conaway was arrested in January 2018 following a two-count indictment accusing him of selling and offering for sale drug paraphernalia on May 16, 2016, and July 12, 2016, in Eddy County. During his court appearance, he formally admitted to selling three glass pipes meant for meth use to an undercover law enforcement agent on the first date. He further acknowledged maintaining a broad inventory of drug-related tools openly displayed for sale at his business.
On May 16 and June 12, 2016, investigators documented a stockpile of paraphernalia at Twisted Roots—bongs, grinders, roach clips, and scales—items commonly tied to drug distribution. Then, on July 12, 2016, federal agents raided the shop and seized approximately 1,127 smoking instruments, 17 grinders, seven roach clips, 22 digital scales, and a large quantity of jewel bags routinely used to package narcotics.
In his plea agreement, Conaway admitted he knew the items he sold and displayed were likely to be used with controlled substances. The acknowledgment undercuts any defense that the shop operated as a legitimate tobacco accessory retailer. Instead, prosecutors painted Twisted Roots as a hub for drug users and distributors seeking tools of the trade.
The case was built by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force—a coalition of officers from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, and Artesia Police Department. The task force operates under HIDTA Region VI, a federal program designed to dismantle drug trafficking networks in high-intensity zones across the U.S.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brock Taylor is prosecuting the case. Conaway’s plea agreement recommends a sentence of three years of probation, avoiding prison for now. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. The outcome underscores federal pressure on retail fronts that enable drug use under the guise of legal commerce.
Related Federal Cases
- Leon Homero Hernandez Gets 7 Years for Drug Trafficking · New Mexico
- Feds Crush $220K in Drug Paraphernalia from Smoke Shop Ring · Colorado
- Albuquerque Cracks Down: $220K in Drug Paraphernalia Destroyed · Colorado
- Carlsbad Felon Eddie Leo Wyatt Gets 10 Years for Meth Trafficking · New Mexico
- Amber Kay Otero Pleads Guilty to Oxycodone Theft in Carlsbad · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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