Mexican Nationals Charged with Federal Marijuana Trafficking Offenses

ALBUQUERQUE – Jose Luis Castillo-Marchado, 31, and Luis Lopez-Felix, 33, both Mexican nationals illegally in the United States, made their initial appearances this morning in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., on a criminal complaint charging them with violating the federal narcotics trafficking laws.  Both men were detained pending a preliminary hearing and detention hearing which have not yet been scheduled. 

The criminal complaint charges Castillo-Marchado and Lopez-Felix with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and alleges that they committed the offense on Dec. 8, 2015, in Hidalgo County, N.M.  According to the complaint, Castillo-Marchado and Lopez-Felix were arrested on Dec. 8, 2015, by U.S. Border Patrol agents near New Mexico Highway 338, after agents allegedly discovered approximately 2,774.45 pounds of marijuana concealed in Castillo-Marchado and Lopez-Felix’s vehicle. 

If convicted of the marijuana trafficking charge, Castillo-Marchado and Lopez-Felix each face a statutory penalty of a mandatory minimum of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison.  Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations.  All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the El Paso office of the DEA and the Lordsburg station of the U.S. Border Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Lizarraga of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.