Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Cocaine Trafficking Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Pascual Cerpa-Coy, 55, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to a cocaine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Cerpa-Coy was arrested in Jan. 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute on Jan. 19, 2017, in Bernalillo County, N.M. Cerpa-Coy subsequently was indicted on the same charge on Feb. 7, 2017.

According to court documents, Cerpa-Coy was arrested after the Crimes Against Children Unit of the Albuquerque Police Department found approximately one kilogram of cocaine and drug paraphernalia at his residence while executing a state search warrant as part of an investigation of juvenile sexual abuse.

During today’s proceedings, Cerpa-Coy entered a guilty plea to the indictment and admitted possessing more than 500 grams of cocaine on Jan. 19, 2017, that he intended to distribute to others. At sentencing, Cerpa-Coy faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and APD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley is prosecuting the case as part 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 work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.