Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Jean Claud Mills, 31, of Albuquerque, N.M., entered a guilty plea in federal court this morning to methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Mills will be sentenced to 11 years in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Mills was arrested on May 16, 2014, on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Mills subsequently was indicted on June 11, 2014, and charged with (1) possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, (2) being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and (3) using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  Court records reflect that in May 2014, Mills was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he previously had been convicted of felony offenses including possession of narcotics with intent to distribute and conspiracy to tamper with evidence.

According to the criminal complaint, on May 15, 2014, Mills attempted to sell a pound of methamphetamine to undercover detectives of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) for $13,000.00.  The APD detectives recovered a handgun and two magazines of ammunition from an open glove compartment in Mills’ vehicle.

During today’s change of plea hearing, Mills pled guilty to Counts 1 and 2 of the indictment.  Mills admitted that on May 15, 2014, he sold a pound of methamphetamine to two men for $13,000.00, and was arrested by law enforcement officers before he got into his vehicle to leave.  Mills further admitted that on that day he possessed a firearm even though he was a convicted felon and was on probation.

Mills has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Border Enforcement Security Task Force of the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and APD.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano Torrez is prosecuting the case.