Eddy County Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Stephanie Murray, 30, of Loving, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to narcotics trafficking charges arising out of the sale of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent.

Murray and co-defendants Jimmy Myers, 24, of Lockhart, Texas, and Jesus Sanchez, 31, of Carlsbad, N.M., were charged with methamphetamine trafficking offenses in an indictment filed on Dec. 13, 2017.  The three-count indictment charged Murray, Myers and Sanchez with participating in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and distributing methamphetamine on April 28, 2017.  It also charged Myers with distributing methamphetamine on May 18, 2017.  According to the indictment, the defendants committed the crimes in Eddy County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Murray pled guilty to conspiracy and distributing methamphetamine.  In entering the guilty plea, Murray admitted that on April 28, 2017, she provided methamphetamine to an individual who then distributed the methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent. 

Myers previously entered a guilty plea on May 8, 2018.  At sentencing, Murray faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, and Myers faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison.  They both remain in custody pending sentencing hearings, which have yet to be scheduled.

Sanchez has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the indictment.  Charges in indictments are merely accusations and criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the New Mexico State Police.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joni Autrey of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.