Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Frank Lara, 45, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty yesterday afternoon in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to methamphetamine trafficking charges.

Lara and co-defendant Esmeralda Dominguez, 33, of Glendale, Ariz., were charged by criminal complaint in July 2017, with methamphetamine trafficking offenses.  According to the complaint, Lara and Dominguez distributed approximately 56.09 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement on July 15, 2016, in Dona Ana County, N.M.

Lara and Dominguez subsequently were charged in a two-count indictment filed on Oct. 19, 2017, with participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from July 14, 2016 through July 15, 2016, and distributing methamphetamine on July 15, 2016.  According to the indictment, the defendants committed the crimes in Dona Ana County.

During yesterday’s proceedings, Lara pled guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.  Dominguez previously entered a similar guilty plea on Feb. 20, 2018.  At sentencing, each of the defendants faces a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison.  Sentencing hearings have yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis A. Martinez.