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

ALBUQUERQUE – Jose Elias Gonzalez, 31, of Bakersfield, Calif., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a methamphetamine trafficking charge. 

Gonzalez was arrested in Aug. 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with a methamphetamine trafficking offense after the DEA seized 1.90 kilograms (4.18 pounds) of methamphetamine from him during an interdiction investigation at the Greyhound Bus Station in Albuquerque on July 26, 2015.  Gonzalez was subsequently indicted on Aug. 11, 2015, and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. 

During today’s proceedings, Gonzalez pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  In his plea agreement, Gonzales admitted transporting crystal methamphetamine from Los Angeles, Calif., on an eastbound Greyhound bus that stopped in Albuquerque on the morning of July 26, 2015.  Gonzales intended to transport the methamphetamine, which was contained in four clear heat-sealed plastic bundles concealed in a shopping bag, to Little Rock, Ark.

At sentencing, Gonzalez faces up to 20 years in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be set by the court.  He 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo Armijo.