Farmington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Methamphetamine Offense
ALBUQUERQUE – United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that, today in federal court in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Isaac Herrera, a 24-year-old Farmington resident, pleaded guilty to possessing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute under a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office. Herrera has been in federal custody since his arrest on May 5, 2010 and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Herrera faces a mandatory minimum ten-year term of imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment based on his guilty plea.
Herrera was charged on February 23, 2010 in a three-count indictment alleging that he violated federal narcotics and firearms laws on September 20, 2009 in San Juan County. Specifically, he was charged with (1) being a felon in possession of a firearm, (2) using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and (3) possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The indictment reveals that Herrera previously was convicted of distributing a controlled substance; receiving stolen property; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; and shooting at a dwelling or occupied building. Herrera’s prior felony convictions occurred in San Juan County.
In his plea agreement, Herrera admitted possessing more 82.4 grams of methamphetamine on September 20, 2009. He further admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to another person and that this offense occurred in Farmington, New Mexico. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the United States Attorney’s Office will move to dismiss the two firearms counts after Herrera is sentenced.
Assistant United States Attorney Jack E. Burkhead is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Farmington Police Department.