80th Defendant Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Arising Out of ATF-Led Operation Targeting Drug Trafficking and Firearms Crime in Bernalillo County

ALBUQUERQUE – In Aug. 2016, a multi-agency investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) concluded with the filing of 59 federal indictments and a federal criminal complaint charging 103 Bernalillo County residents with federal firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses.  To date, 80 of the 103 defendants charged as the result of this investigation have entered guilty pleas and 44 of them have been sentenced.

The investigation was undertaken in support of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution primarily based on their prior criminal convictions with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

This week, Jeneill Ayala, 25, of Albuquerque, entered a guilty plea in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge, becoming the 80^th defendant to enter a guilty plea.

Ayala and her co-defendant, David Torrez, 32, were charged by indictment on July 28, 2016, with conspiracy and distributing methamphetamine on June 21, 2016, in Bernalillo County.  Ayala pled guilty on Oct. 10, 2017, to both charges of the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.  Torrez previously pled guilty on Sept. 26, 2017, to Count 2 of the indictment and admitted selling two ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent on June 21, 2016. 

At sentencing, Ayala and Torrez each face a statutory penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison.  Their sentencing hearings have yet to be scheduled. 

Twenty of the defendants charged as the result of the ATF investigation have entered not guilty pleas to the charges against them.  Charges in indictments are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.   Two defendants are fugitives and the charges against two defendants have been dismissed.

This case against Ayala and Torrez was investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eva M. Fontanez.