California Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Heroin Trafficking Charge in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Carlos Alberto Renteria-Garcia, 23, of Los Angeles, Calif., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a heroin trafficking charge.  The guilty plea was entered under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Renteria-Garcia was arrested on Feb. 16, 2015, at the Amtrak Train Station in Albuquerque after DEA agents found approximately 5.06 pounds of heroin concealed in the bedroom Renteria-Garcia was using during his ride aboard the train during a consensual search.  Renteria-Garcia was indicted on March 10, 2015, and charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute.

During today’s proceedings, Renteria-Garcia pled guilty to the indictment, and admitted that he was in possession of more than a kilogram of heroin on Feb. 16, 2015.  He further admitted that DEA agents found the heroin concealed in his room on the Amtrak train during a stop in Albuquerque.

At sentencing, Renteria-Garcia faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Interdiction Unit of the DEA’s Albuquerque office which focuses on disrupting the flow of narcotics, weapons, and the proceeds of illegal activities as they are smuggled into or through New Mexico in passenger buses, passenger trains, commercial vehicles and automobiles.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel R. Meyers is prosecuting the case.

This case is being prosecuted pursuant to the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.  The HOPE Initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is partnering with the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative with the overriding goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in the District of New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  The law enforcement component of the HOPE Initiative is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.