Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ALBUQUERQUE – Hugo Escarcega-Quinones, 30, a resident of Bernalillo County, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to violating the federal narcotics trafficking and firearms laws.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Escarcega-Quinones will be sentenced to ten years in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Escarcega-Quinones was arrested in Feb. 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with heroin and methamphetamine trafficking charges and with carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  According to the complaint, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies arrested Escarcega-Quinones on Feb. 23, 2016, on outstanding felony arrest warrants.  During a search incident to arrest, the deputies found Escarcega-Quinones in possession of approximately 58 grams of heroin, 17 grams of methamphetamine, $1,400.00, a firearm and ammunition.  The complaint alleged that Escarcega-Quinones committed the three crimes in Bernalillo County, N.M.  Escarcega-Quinones subsequently was indicted on the same three crimes on March 23, 2016.

During today’s proceedings, Escarcega-Quinones pled guilty to Counts 2 and 3 of the indictment charging him with using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  Escarcega-Quinones remains in federal custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the BCSO.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Eva Fontanez is prosecuting the case.

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