Meth Mule Matta Heredia Gets 5+ Years

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Six pounds of meth. That’s what cost Carlos Matta Heredia, 32, of Phoenix, Arizona, over five years of his life. Heredia was sentenced today in Las Cruces to 63 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking the highly addictive drug into New Mexico.

The bust went down back in May 2016. Luna County law enforcement pulled Heredia over on Interstate 10 during a routine traffic stop. It wasn’t routine for long. A search of his vehicle revealed a staggering 2,721.7 grams – six full pounds – of methamphetamine. Heredia was immediately taken into custody on a criminal complaint.

On September 13, 2016, Heredia threw in the towel and pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He admitted under oath that he wasn’t just carrying the drugs; he was actively planning to deliver them to someone else. A clear indication he wasn’t a mere courier, but a key player in a larger operation.

The investigation was a coordinated effort by the HIDTA Regional Interagency Drug Task Force/Metro Narcotics Task Force. That mouthful of an agency is comprised of officers from the Las Cruces Police Department, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the New Mexico State Police. They’ve been working tirelessly to choke off the flow of drugs into the state, and this case is a testament to their dedication.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah M. Davenport, from the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces branch office, successfully prosecuted the case. She presented the evidence and secured the conviction, sending a strong message that drug trafficking won’t be tolerated in New Mexico. The HIDTA program, established in 1988, provides vital resources to law enforcement battling drug cartels and traffickers across the nation.

While 63 months isn’t a life sentence, it’s a significant blow to Heredia and hopefully disrupts the network he was a part of. The streets of New Mexico are a little safer tonight, but the war on drugs is far from over. Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on the ongoing battle against those who profit from misery.