Willie Collier, Cocaine Trafficking, New Mexico 2015
In a major blow to New Mexico's fight against narcotics, a Georgia man has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking ring.
Willie Collier, 66, of Macon, Ga., was sentenced this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for his cocaine trafficking conviction.
The charges against Collier stem from a January 2014 arrest at the Greyhound Bus Station in Albuquerque. According to court documents, DEA agents searched Collier's baggage and found a large amount of cocaine inside a backpack.
Collier was subsequently charged in a superseding indictment filed on June 24, 2015, with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute on January 21, 2014, in Bernalillo County. The case was investigated by the Interdiction Unit of the DEA's Albuquerque office, which focuses on disrupting the flow of narcotics, weapons, and the proceeds of illegal activities as they are smuggled into or through New Mexico in passenger buses, passenger trains, commercial vehicles and automobiles.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo R. Armijo prosecuted the case, which resulted in Collier's guilty plea on August 17, 2015. In his plea, Collier admitted to possessing approximately 4.037 kilograms of cocaine on January 21, 2014, and acknowledged that he was being paid to transport the drugs from Phoenix, Ariz., to Memphis, Tenn.
The sentence handed down to Collier marks a significant victory for law enforcement in their ongoing efforts to combat the flow of narcotics through New Mexico. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers and consequences of cocaine trafficking and the importance of cooperation between federal and local agencies in preventing these crimes.
Defendant Information:
Defendant: Willie Collier
Charges: Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
Location: Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Date: January 21, 2014
Sentence: 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release
Amount of Cocaine: Approximately 4.037 kilograms
Route: Phoenix, Ariz., to Memphis, Tenn.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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