Los Lunas Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – James Sparks, 38, of Los Lunas, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction.  Sparks was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by a four-year term of supervised release.

Sparks was charged in an indictment filed on Nov. 5, 2015, with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on June 16, 2014, in Valencia County, N.M.  He was arrested on Nov. 10, 2015, after he was transferred to federal custody from state custody where he was being held on related state charges which were later dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.

On Jan. 22, 2016, Sparks pled guilty to the indictment.  In entering his guilty plea, Sparks admitted that on June 16, 2014, Valencia County Sheriff’s deputies stopped him for speeding on his motorcycle.  He attempted to run from deputies when they discovered that Sparks was in possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, but was eventually apprehended and arrested by the deputies.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the 13^th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo R. Armijo prosecuted the case as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.  Because New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Valencia County, under this initiative.