Mexican National Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearms Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – Sergio Saenz-Amaya, 30, a Mexican national illegally in the United States, was sentenced earlier today to 120 months in federal prison for his methamphetamine trafficking and firearms conviction.  Saenz-Amaya will be deported after he completes his prison sentence.

Saenz-Amaya and his co-defendant, Manuel Adrian Aldarette, 32, also a Mexican national illegally in the United States, were arrested on a criminal complaint in Oct. 2012, after Saenz-Amaya and Aldarette engaged in a drug trafficking transaction with a person who unbeknownst to them was a confidential informant with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  Saenz-Amaya and Aldarette subsequently were indicted and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  Saenz-Amaya also was charged with using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Saenz-Amaya pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime on Aug. 1, 2013. 

Aldarette pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Aug. 12, 2013.  Aldarette remains in federal custody pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.  At sentencing, Aldarette faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.  He will be deported after serving his prison sentence.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of HSI and the Albuquerque Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn W.Y. Wang.