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Press Release

U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson Announces Appointment of Full-Time Assistant U.S. Attorney in Roswell, New Mexico

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico
Federal Presence in Eastern New Mexico also Augmented by Addition of HSI Special Agents to ICE ERO Office in Roswell

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson announced today the appointment of a full-time Assistant U.S. Attorney to be stationed permanently in Roswell, N.M., to strengthen the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to serve the citizens of southeastern New Mexico, and to enhance the office’s partnerships with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in the region.

            “We are the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the entire State of New Mexico, and Roswell has always been an important focal point for our prosecutions in the southeastern part of the state,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson.  “This new on-the-ground presence in Roswell will provide us with valuable insight into the needs and priorities of the communities of southeastern New Mexico, and offer our law enforcement partners in this region closer coordination and immediate guidance on the most urgent crime reduction and other public safety matters.”

            Officials of the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Border Patrol, joined the U.S. Attorney in making the announcement at the offices of the Roswell Police Department.  These federal agencies routinely work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute a wide-variety of federal criminal activity, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearms offenses, illegal immigration, violent crime in Indian Country, child exploitation, complex financial crime, public corruption, and national security offenses.   

            “Having a full-time prosecutor in Roswell, re-affirms our commitment in federal law enforcement to the Roswell and southeastern New Mexico communities,” said Sonya K. Chavez, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico.  “We are in this fight together and we are fully invested in continuing to support all law enforcement efforts and the people in this region of New Mexico.”

            “The men and women at the FBI Roswell Resident Agency have investigated crimes ranging from drug-trafficking to bank robbery in southeast New Mexico for years,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division.  “Having a permanently assigned Assistant U.S. Attorney here will give the FBI and our partners the ability to make an even greater impact in this important region of our state.”

            “HSI is pleased to announce the opening of an investigations office in Roswell,” said Special Agent in Charge Jack P. Staton of the HSI’s El Paso Division.  “HSI Special Agents assigned to the new office will increase our ongoing commitment and support to our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in eastern New Mexico.”

             “Federal, state and local law enforcement have come together to meet the need for a greater presence in Roswell, New Mexico.” said Kyle W. Williamson, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA El Paso Division.  “DEA is proud to work with our partners, leveraging our respective resources to pursue those who threaten our communities.”

            “The U.S. Attorney’s Office has a long history of service to communities throughout New Mexico,” stated Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II of the ATF Dallas Division. 
“The addition of permanent services in Roswell is a tremendous enhancement to resources and strategies available to ATF, our law enforcement partners, community leaders, and residents of the area.  We are thrilled with the announcement.”

            “IRS-CI is pleased to learn of the U.S. Attorney’s Office new presence in Southeastern New Mexico and we look forward to having an increased ability to investigate cases in a more effective and efficient manner in that part of the state,” said Ismael Nevarez Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation.

“Officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations have been living and working in Roswell for the past couple years, and we stand with all of our partners in our commitment to combat crime and threats to the safety of the citizens of Roswell,” said Corey A. Price, Field Office Director for ERO El Paso.  “Our efforts to curb criminal activity are more effective when partnerships with local law enforcement are strong.”

              The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal partners also work closely with state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies towards the common goal of public safety.  In addition to the Roswell Police Department, which hosted the press conference, the New Mexico State Police, Chaves County Sheriff’s Office, Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Lea County Sheriff’s Department, Artesia Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, and Hobbs Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Anderson in making the announcement.

            “We at the Roswell Police Department not only welcome assistance from our federal partners, but we wholeheartedly appreciate this step toward making Roswell safer as a community,” said Phil Smith, Chief of Police for the City of Roswell.

            “As the Chief of the New Mexico State Police, I understand the challenges associated with operating a law enforcement organization whose jurisdiction is the entire state,” said Tim Johnson, Chief of the New Mexico State Police.  “Having an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Roswell will benefit and streamline communication not only for my officers, but also for all federal, state and local agencies in the southern part of New Mexico.”

            “I sincerely support and welcome the addition of an AUSA in the Roswell area,” said Corey M. Helton, Lea County Sheriff.  “This will greatly enhance our partnerships with all the Federal agencies involved.”

“The Carlsbad Police Department looks forward to working with the newly assigned Assistant U.S. Attorney and all our federal law enforcement partners,” said Brandon Skinner, Chief of Police for the City of Carlsbad.  “The presence of the U.S. Attorney's Office in southeastern New Mexico will help us continue to serve those living and working in our community and in our effort to fight crime.”

“Federal prosecution of violent offenders has been, and continues to be, one of the cornerstones in the Artesia Police Department’s successful reduction of violent and drug crime within our community,” said Kirk E. Roberts, Chief of the Artesia Police Department.  “The addition of a full-time federal prosecutor to Roswell will greatly enhance the effectiveness of the federal programs our agency and partners participate in.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is one of 94 U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the United States. The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties.  The District's main office is located in Albuquerque.  There is a staffed branch office in Las Cruces and an unstaffed branch office in Santa Fe.

Updated November 14, 2019

Press Release Number: 19-186