Roswell Man Sentenced to Prison for Violating Federal Narcotics Trafficking Laws

ALBUQUERQUE – Francisco Mejia, 44, of Roswell, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating federal narcotics trafficking laws.

Mejia was arrested on March 17, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm on Feb. 24, 2015, in Chaves County, N.M.  According to the complaint, the New Mexico State Police executed a search warrant on Mejia’s residence, workshop and vehicles where they seized approximately 29.53 grams of methamphetamine, $5,240.00 in cash, a pistol, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.  At the time, Mejia was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of possession of a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On June 11, 2015, Mejia pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  Mejia admitted that on Feb. 24, 2015, he possessed 29.53 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  In his plea agreement, Mejia agreed to forfeit the weapon and ammunition seized during the investigation of the case.

This case was investigated by the Roswell office of the FBI, the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy M. Castellano of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.