Press Release
Santa Fe Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking Conviction
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE – George B. Lamonda, 44, of Santa Fe, N.M., was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction.
Lamonda and co-defendant Jared Ray Behrends, 33 of Albuquerque, N.M., were arrested on a criminal complaint in Feb. 2014. A third defendant, Jason Parris, 35, of Rio Rancho, N.M., was arrested in Mar. 2014. According to court filings, on Feb. 12, 2014, the New Mexico State Police found approximately 502.7 grams of methamphetamine concealed within a Tupperware container that was in a bag of dog food when they searched Lamonda’s vehicle during a routine traffic stop.
The three defendants were indicted in Mar. 2014, in an eight-count indictment charging Lamonda, Behrends and Parris with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, Count 2 charges Lamonda and Behrends with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Counts 3 and 4 charge Parris with using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking crime, and Counts 5 through 8 charge Parris with distributing methamphetamine. The indictment alleged that the defendants committed these offenses between Oct. 2013 and Jan. 2014, in Bernalillo County, N.M.
Lamonda pled guilty on March 20, 2015, to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In entering the guilty plea, Lamonda admitted that on Feb. 11, 2014, he travelled with Behrends to Phoenix, Ariz., to purchase methamphetamine knowing that the drugs would be distributed in Albuquerque. He further admitted that they hid the drugs in a bag of dog food before returning to Albuquerque, where they were stopped by law enforcement and found to be in possession of approximately 442.9 grams of methamphetamine.
Behrends pled guilty on Sept. 9, 2014, to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In entering the guilty plea, Behrends admitted that on Feb. 11, 2014, he travelled with Lamonda to Phoenix, Ariz., to purchase methamphetamine knowing that drugs would be distributed in Albuquerque. He further admitted that they hid the drugs in a bag of dog food before returning to Albuquerque. Behrends also acknowledged making a similar trip to Phoenix with Lamonda and that he received $500.00 when they returned to Albuquerque. Behrends was sentenced on March 6, 2015, to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Parris pled guilty on Sept. 11, 2014, to Count 8 of the indictment charging him with distribution of methamphetamine. He admitted that on Jan. 27, 2014, he sold 27.9 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer. Parris was sentenced on Feb. 18, 2015, to 51 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer M. Rozzoni and Stephen R. Kotz prosecuted the case.
Updated July 20, 2015
Component