Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Narcotics Trafficking Charge in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Ruben Fuentes, Jr., 38, of Oklahoma City, Okla., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a methamphetamine trafficking charge.  The charge to which Fuentes pleaded guilty arose out a seizure of more than 13 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop.

Fuentes was arrested on March 22, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  The criminal complaint alleged that Fuentes committed the crime on March 10, 2016, in Quay County, N.M.  According to the criminal complaint, New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officers found approximately 13.45 pounds of methamphetamine in Fuentes’ vehicle during a traffic stop on eastbound Interstate 40 near mile marker 327.  Fuentes was subsequently indicted on the same charge on April 12, 2016. 

During today’s proceedings, Fuentes pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  In entering the guilty plea, Fuentes admitted that on March 10, 2016, when he was stopped by the NMSP in Quay County, he was in possession of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others.

At sentencing, Fuentes faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years 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 Homeland Security Investigations and the NMSP.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case.