Roswell Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Jason Martinez, 27, of Roswell, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to methamphetamine trafficking charges under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Martinez and his co-defendant Joseph Vallejos, 23, also of Roswell, were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in Sept. 2015, in Chaves County, N.M.  According to the criminal complaint, on Sept. 10, 2015, Martinez and Vallejos sold quantities of methamphetamine to an undercover agent on the following dates:  15.3 grams on Sept. 10, 2015, 15 grams on Sept. 11, 2015, and 56.7 grams on Sept. 16, 2015.  Vallejos was also charged with possessing a firearm during the Sept. 16, 2015 transaction.

Martinez and Vallejos were subsequently indicted on Dec. 17, 2015, and charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distributing methamphetamine.  The indictment also charged Vallejos with using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The indictment included forfeiture allegations requiring Martinez and Vallejos to forfeit $3,000.00 to the United States.

During today’s proceedings, Martinez pled guilty to the indictment and admitted conspiring to sell a total of 87 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover agent in Chaves County in Sept. 2015. 

At sentencing, Martinez faces a statutory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison followed by not less than four years of supervised release.  Martinez remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

Vallejos has entered a not guilty plea to the indictment and remains in custody pending trial which is currently scheduled for June 20, 2016.  Charges in indictments are merely accusations.  All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and the New Mexico State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy M. Castellano of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.