Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charge 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 104 Bernalillo County residents with federal firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses. To date, 66 of the 104 defendants charged as the result of this investigation have entered guilty pleas and 29 of them have been sentenced.

Davon Johnson, 44, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Johnson will be sentenced to five years in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Johnson is one of 104 individuals who were charged as the result of the investigation that began in mid-April 2016, when ATF personnel from throughout the country joined forces with federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies in New Mexico to combat the high rate of violent crime in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. The investigators utilized a number of investigative techniques, including undercover operations, historical investigation and targeting of multi-convicted felons in possession of firearms.

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.

Johnson was arrested on July 6, 2016, on an indictment charging him with distribution of MDMA on Jun 9, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M. During today’s proceedings, Johnson pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In entering the guilty plea, Johnson admitted that on June 9, 2016, he sold approximately 100 pills containing methamphetamine to another individual in exchange for money. Johnson remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

The remaining defendants have entered not guilty pleas. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano Torrez