Los Lunas Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – David Villegas, 29, of Los Lunas, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a methamphetamine trafficking charge.

Villegas is charged in a one-count indictment which was filed on Feb. 28, 2017, with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  According to the indictment, Villegas committed the offense on June 13, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Villegas pled guilty to the indictment, and admitted that on June 13, 2016, he was arrested by DEA agents while in possession of methamphetamine which he intended to sell to other individuals.  In entering the guilty plea, Villegas admitted that the DEA agents found approximately 654.3 grams of pure methamphetamine inside his vehicle.  Villegas also admitted that, when he was arrested, he informed the DEA agents that they would find proceeds from his methamphetamine trafficking activities hidden in his residence.  DEA agents subsequently seized approximately $9,200 in cash from Villegas’ residence. 

Villegas was remanded into custody after entering his guilty plea and will remain detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.  At sentencing, Villegas faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison.

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