Five Albuquerque Men Plead Guilty to Federal Firearms and Drug Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Five Albuquerque men have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a firearms and drug trafficking conspiracy that involved selling machine gun conversion devices and cocaine.

According to court records, between February 2024 and July 2024, Micah Maestas, 20, Dominic Ramirez, 22, Daniel Garcia, 19, Oscar Ruiz Salmeron, 20, and his brother, Jesus Ruiz Salmeron, 20, sold firearms equipped with machine gun conversion devices, commonly known as "Glock switches," along with cocaine. During the investigation, the defendants sold modified firearms and distributed controlled substances to an undercover law enforcement officer in multiple transactions.

Law enforcement linked firearms sold by the defendants to multiple shooting incidents in the Albuquerque area through ballistics evidence. Jesus Ruiz Salmeron was captured on video firing a fully automatic weapon near Albuquerque High School.

Maestas pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine, using firearms in drug trafficking crimes, trafficking firearms, dealing firearms without a license and using firearms in drug trafficking crimes and possession and transfer of a machinegun. Ramirez and Garcia pleaded guilty to dealing firearms without a license, distribution of cocaine and using a firearm in relation to drug trafficking. Oscar Ruiz Salmeron pleaded guilty to trafficking firearms. Jesus Ruiz Salmeron pleaded guilty to possession of a machine gun.

Under the terms of their plea agreements, Maestas, Ramirez, and Garcia each face a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and up to 20 years. Oscar Ruiz Salmeron and Jesus Ruiz Salmeron faces up to 10 years imprisonment. Maestas is scheduled to be sentenced November 6, 2025. Sentencing hearings for the remaining defendants have not been scheduled.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Shawn Stallo, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jack E. Burkhead is prosecuting the case.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.