Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking Charge in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Deon Terrell Culberson, 39, of Wichita, Kan., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a methamphetamine trafficking charge. 

The DEA arrested Culberson in Feb. 2018, after seizing approximately 0.7 kilograms (1.54 pounds) of methamphetamine from his luggage during an interdiction investigation on Feb. 20, 2018, in Albuquerque.  Culberson was indicted on March 13, 2018, and was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 20. 2018, in Bernalillo County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Culberson pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on Feb. 20, 2018, he possessed approximately 660 grams of methamphetamine while traveling from Las Vegas, Nev., to Albuquerque.  Culberson further admitted that he intended to deliver the methamphetamine to others upon reaching his final destination of Newton, Kan.

At sentencing, Culberson faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison.  He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo R. Armijo.