Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Adam Chavez, 35, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Chavez was arrested in Feb. 2016, and was charged by criminal complaint with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 16, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M. According to the complaint, Deputies of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and Special Agents of the DEA seized three bags containing an aggregate of 934 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia when they executed a state search warrant at Chavez’s residence. Chavez was subsequently indicted on the same charge on March 8, 2016.

During today’s proceedings, Chavez pled guilty to the indictment. In entering the guilty plea, Chavez acknowledged that on Feb. 16, 2016, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his Albuquerque residence. Chavez admitted that as the officers approached his residence, they observed him throw a brown bag containing a shirt, a set of scales and 846 grams of pure methamphetamine from his second floor balcony onto a neighboring rooftop before reentering his residence.

At sentencing, Chavez faces a statutory minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison. Chavez 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 the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander M. Uballez and Timothy S. Vasquez are prosecuting the case.