Colorado Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Trafficking Conviction in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Adrian Chavez, 24, of Greeley, Colo., was sentenced today in federal court in Santa Fe, N.M., to 48 months in prison for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction.  Chavez will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence. 

The DEA arrested Chavez in Aug. 2016, after seizing approximately 2.80 kilograms (6.27 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine from him during an interdiction investigation in Albuquerque.  The methamphetamine was contained in five plastic containers inside Chavez’s backpack.

Chavez was indicted on Aug. 23, 2016, and was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Aug. 12, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.

On Nov. 1, 2017, Chavez pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  In entering the guilty plea, Chavez admitted that on Aug. 12, 2016, he possessed methamphetamine that was concealed inside five plastic containers wrapped with grey duct tape inside his backpack. 

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers.