Monday, June 10, 2013

Undercover Investigation Results in Three Arrests and Seizure of 15 Pounds of Methamphetamine

ALBUQUERQUE—Arturo Reynaga, 29, of Los Lunas, New Mexico, Joaquin Alire, 29; of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Jose Lopez-Hernandez, 31, a Mexican national residing in Belen, New Mexico, made their initial appearance this morning in federal court on a criminal complaint charging them with conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. All three remain in federal custody pending detention hearings scheduled for June 10, 2013.
Reynaga, Alire, and Lopez-Hernandez were arrested yesterday by the FBI after they attempted to sell approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover officer. According to the criminal complaint, the FBI arrested Reynaga in the vicinity of the Hard Rock Casino, located on Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico, and seized the methamphetamine from the vehicle in which Reynaga had traveled to the casino. The complaint further alleges that Alire and Lopez-Hernandez were arrested after additional investigation revealed that they allegedly supplied the methamphetamine that Reynaga was planning to sell to the undercover officer. Alire also was arrested in the vicinity of the Hard Rock Casino, and Lopez-Hernandez was arrested in Albuquerque.
If convicted on the charges in the complaint, each of the three defendants faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to a maximum of life in prison and Lopez-Hernandez will be deported after serving his prison sentence. Charges in criminal complaints are only accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque Division of the FBI, with assistance from the Las Cruces-Doña Ana Metro Narcotics Agency, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado.

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