NM Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – Steven Roman, 28, of Mesilla Park, New Mexico, was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction. Roman was found guilty of distributing 57 grams of methamphetamine to a person working with law enforcement on April 2, 2014.

Roman and his co-defendants, Guillermo Ortega, 43, and Salvador Ortega, 35, both of Las Cruces, were charged with methamphetamine trafficking offenses in a four-count indictment filed on June 18, 2014. The indictment alleged that the three men committed these crimes in Dona Ana County, New Mexico.

Guillermo Ortega, 43, is facing a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. On April 14, 2014, Ortega was prohibited from being in possession of firearms or ammunition because of his previous felony conviction of felony theft.

Salvador Ortega, 35, pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement on January 21, 2016. At sentencing, Ortega faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

The case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The indictment charged the three men with distributing methamphetamine on April 2, 2014. The indictment also charged Guillermo Ortega with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on April 14, 2014.

The investigation led to the arrest and conviction of the three men, who were found guilty of their crimes in a federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico.