Roswell Woman Admits to Meth Trafficking

LAS CRUCES, NM – Ana Solis, 23, of Roswell, New Mexico, took a plea deal yesterday, admitting her role in a significant methamphetamine trafficking operation that stretched across Chaves County. The guilty plea comes after an eight-month investigation that snared 41 individuals, painting a grim picture of the drug trade in southeastern New Mexico.

Solis is one of 21 defendants facing federal charges stemming from the probe, initiated in September 2015. The investigation, dubbed part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, originally targeted Joseph Ray Mendiola, 35, of Roswell, allegedly the head of a drug trafficking organization (DTO). But the scope quickly broadened, pulling in suppliers feeding Mendiola’s operation and other independent traffickers.

The 24-count indictment, filed September 22, 2015, alleges a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between June and July 2015. Solis, along with Mendiola and 14 others, was named in the indictment, accused of coordinating the flow of the drug. Further charges included conspiracy to distribute cocaine and using communication devices – specifically phones – to facilitate the crimes. The entire operation unfolded within the borders of Chaves County.

Law enforcement wasn’t just relying on surveillance. Fourteen federal search warrants were executed, hitting 10 homes in Roswell, one in Dexter, NM, and three vehicles. The raids yielded a substantial haul: approximately 5600 grams of methamphetamine, $35,960.00 in cash, and a cache of firearms, including two assault rifles. The scale of the seizure underscores the serious nature of the trafficking ring.

In court yesterday, Solis confessed to conspiracy, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and utilizing a communication device to further the criminal enterprise. She admitted to conspiring with others to distribute the drug, and specifically to arranging the purchase of two pounds of methamphetamine on July 25 and July 31, 2015, with the clear intention of reselling it. Solis now faces a statutory minimum of ten years in prison and a potential life sentence. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Seven of Solis’ co-defendants have already entered guilty pleas. The remaining defendants maintain their innocence. The investigation was a joint effort by the FBI’s Albuquerque Division (Roswell office), DEA (Las Cruces office), Roswell Police Department, Chaves County Sheriff’s Office, the Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force, New Mexico State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy M. Castellano and John Balla are handling the prosecution. Remember, charges are accusations until proven guilty in a court of law.