Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Albuquerque Resident Pleads Guilty to Meth Trafficking Charge Under Plea Agreement Requiring 84-Month Sentence
Defendant is One of 104 Individuals Federally Charged as a Result of ATF-Led Investigation Pursued in Support of Federal “Worst of the Worst” Anti-Violence Initiative
ALBUQUERQUE – Rumaldo Olivas, 27, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Olivas will be sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.
Olivas was arrested during an ATF-led investigation that resulted in the filing of 59 federal indictments and one 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.
Olivas was arrested in Aug. 2016, on an indictment charging him distribution of methamphetamine on July 27, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M. The indictment included forfeiture provisions requiring Olivas to forfeit $1,000. During today’s proceedings, Olivas entered a guilty plea to the indictment. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
To date, 21 of the 104 defendants have entered guilty pleas and one has 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.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Mysliwiec and Letitia C. Simms are prosecuting the case.
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