Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ALBUQUERQUE – Michael Ryan Prost, 36, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

 

Prost and co-defendant Mike Jensen, 33, were arrested during an ATF-led investigation that resulted in the filing of 59 federal indictments and a federal criminal complaint charging 104 Bernalillo County residents with federal firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses.  The investigation began in mid-April 2016, when ATF personnel from throughout the country joined forces with federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies in New Mexico to combat the high rate of violent crime in the Albuquerque metropolitan area.  The investigators utilized a number of investigative techniques, including undercover operations, historical investigation and targeting of multi-convicted felons in possession of firearms.

 

The investigation was undertaken in support of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution primarily based on their prior criminal convictions with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

 

Jensen was arrested in July 2016, on an indictment charging him with methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges.  The indictment subsequently was superseded on Aug. 9, 2016, to include Prost.  The superseding indictment charged Jensen and Prost with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from May 9, 2016 through May 25, 2016, and distributing methamphetamine on May 9, 2016.  Jensen was charged individually with possession of a stolen firearm and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime on May 9, 2016, and distributing methamphetamine on May 25, 2016.

 

Today, Prost pled guilty to distributing approximately 57 grams of methamphetamine to Jensen on May 9, 2016, so that he could sell the methamphetamine to others.  Jensen previously entered a guilty plea.  At sentencing, Prost faces a statutory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

 

To date, 48 of the 104 defendants have entered guilty pleas, and 18, including Jensen, have been sentenced.  The remaining defendants have entered not guilty pleas.  Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

 

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Han is prosecuting the case.