California Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Transporting PCP on a Greyhound Bus

ALBUQUERQUE – Randall Wheeler, Jr., 30, of Los Angeles, Calif., was sentenced this afternoon to ten years in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for his drug trafficking conviction.
                            
Wheeler was arrested in Albuquerque, N.M., on Jan. 23, 2014, on a criminal complaint alleging a drug trafficking charge.  According to the criminal complaint, Wheeler possessed phencyclidine (PCP) with intent to distribute on Jan. 22, 2014, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  Wheeler subsequently pled guilty on Sept. 17, 2014, to a felony information charging him with possession with intent to distribute.

According to the plea agreement, Wheeler admitted that on Jan. 22, 2014, he was on a Greyhound bus that made a routine stop in Albuquerque, N.M.  During the stop, a DEA agent approached him, identified himself as law enforcement, and asked permission to speak with him.  Wheeler agreed and permitted the agent to search his bags.  The search revealed two bottles concealed within Wheeler’s suitcases which were found to contain PCP. 

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.  The case was prosecuted by Assistants U.S. Attorney Linda Mott and Rumaldo A. Armijo.