Albuquerque Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Federal Firearm Offenses

ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Eric Castañeda, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, announced today that Eloy Romero was sentenced to 195 months in prison. A federal jury returned a guilty verdict against Romero, 47, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, on March 30, 2023, on one count each of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court records, on February 25, 2021, during a tactical operation by the Albuquerque Police Department in the Southwest Area Command, members of the APD Gang Unit observed Romero engage in suspicious behavior in a business parking lot. They approached Romero’s vehicle with emergency equipment engaged, but Romero drove away from the area, disregarding their lights and sirens. APD followed but temporarily disengaged to avoid a dangerous pursuit. Eventually, Romero pulled over and was approached by the investigating officers.

Officers determined that Romero’s vehicle had a suspended registration and Romero had a suspended driver’s license. Officers decided to tow the vehicle, pursuant to department policy. During an inventory of the vehicle, officers discovered suspected fentanyl and a firearm. They immediately sealed the vehicle and sought a search warrant. During the execution of the search warrant, officers located a black backpack in the back seat that contained 352 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine, 1,876 tablets of fentanyl, numerous rounds of .22 ammunition and a .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

Upon his release from prison, Romero will be subject to 5 years of supervised release.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Albuquerque District Office and Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nora Wilson and Joseph M. Spindle.

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