Georgia Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Federal Cocaine Trafficking Conviction in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Willie Collier, 66, of Macon, Ga., was sentenced this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for his cocaine trafficking conviction. 

Collier was arrested on Jan. 21, 2014, at the Greyhound Bus Station in Albuquerque after a search of his baggage by DEA agents revealed that Collier was carrying a large amount of cocaine inside a backpack.  Collier was subsequently charged in a superseding indictment filed on June 24, 2015 with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute on Jan. 21, 2014, in Bernalillo County.

On Aug. 17, 2015, Collier pled guilty to the superseding indictment.  Collier admitted possessing approximately 4.037 kilograms of cocaine on Jan. 21, 2014, and acknowledged that he was being paid to transport the drugs from Phoenix, Ariz., to Memphis, Tenn.

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.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo R. Armijo prosecuted the case.