Roswell Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Violating Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Laws

ALBUQUERQUE – Gabriel Gonzales, 26, of Roswell, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating the federal drug trafficking and firearms laws.

Gonzales was arrested on Dec. 1, 2014, in Springer, N.M., on an indictment charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a person who had been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.  The charges alleged in the indictment took place on Dec. 2, 2013, in Chaves County, N.M.  At the time of his arrest, Gonzales was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of the misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, that being battery against a household member.

On March 12, 2015, Gonzales pled guilty to Counts 1 and 3 of the indictment charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.  In entering the guilty plea, Gonzales admitted that on Dec. 2, 2013, he was pulled over by law enforcement officers for a traffic violation, and during a consensual search of his vehicle, officers found approximately 34.6 grams of methamphetamine and a handgun inside the vehicle.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and the Roswell Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy M. Castellano prosecuted the case.