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Los Lunas Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking
A 38-year-old Los Lunas man will spend the next five years behind bars for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking operation. James Sparks was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by a four-year term of supervised release in federal court in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Sparks was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute after a traffic stop in Valencia County on June 16, 2014. He attempted to flee the scene but was eventually apprehended and arrested by Valencia County Sheriff’s deputies, who discovered more than five grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on him.
Sparks pleaded guilty to the indictment on January 22, 2016, and admitted to the crime during the hearing. He was originally arrested on November 10, 2015, after being transferred to federal custody from state custody where he was being held on related state charges.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo R. Armijo prosecuted the case as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative.
Under the initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution. The goal is to remove repeat offenders from New Mexico communities for as long as possible.
New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, prompting the state’s law enforcement community to collaborate and target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Valencia County, under this initiative.
Sparks’ sentencing marks another victory for law enforcement in their ongoing battle against methamphetamine trafficking and violent crime in New Mexico. Grimy Times will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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