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Press Release

Mexican National Sentenced for Methamphetamine and Cocaine Trafficking Conviction

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Miguel Angel Tinajero-Martinez, 25, a Mexican national illegally in the United States, was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 51 months in federal prison for his methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking convictions.  He will be deported after he completes his prison sentence.

Tinajero-Martinez was indicted on Feb. 19, 2014, under the moniker “4 Runner” and was charged with conspiracy and distribution of methamphetamine.  He was arrested on Feb. 27, 2014, and has been in federal custody since that time.

On July 24, 2014, Tinajero-Martinez entered a guilty plea to a four-count felony information charging him with (1) conspiracy; (2) distribution of methamphetamine in Doña Ana County, N.M., on Jan. 27, 2014; (3) distribution of methamphetamine in Doña Ana County, N.M., on Feb. 27, 2014; and (4) possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in El Paso County, Texas, on Feb. 27, 2014.

According to court records, Tinajero-Martinez conspired with others to distribute three kilograms of methamphetamine in Doña Ana County, N.M., between Dec. 2, 2013 and Feb. 27, 2014.  More specifically, Tinajero-Martinez distributed a kilogram of methamphetamine to an undercover agent on Jan. 27, 2014, and two kilograms of methamphetamine to undercover agents on Feb. 27, 2014.  The drug transactions were negotiated by Tinajero-Martinez’s co-conspirators and Tinajero-Martinez delivered the methamphetamine to the agents.  Tinajero-Martinez also possessed seven kilograms of cocaine at his home in Horizon, Texas; he waived venue to permit him to enter his guilty plea in federal court in New Mexico.

The indictment in this case was the result of a multi-agency investigation that was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) program.  OCDETF is a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and Las Cruces/Doña Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.

Updated March 24, 2015