Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Man from Albuquerque Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm Possession
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Waldo Nahle, 37, of Albuquerque, New Mexico was sentenced in federal court in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Jan. 10 to more than 20 years (250 months) in prison on three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Nahle previously pleaded guilty to these offenses on July 22, 2019. According to public court documents, Nahle participated in sales of methamphetamine to an undercover agent on three different occasions in July 2016. Nahle conspired with his supplier and another methamphetamine trafficker in obtaining the drugs provided to the undercover agent in these transactions.
Nahle also sold a pistol to the undercover agent and a confidential informant during the first transaction. Nahle was prohibited from possessing any firearms at the time of this offense based on prior felony convictions for armed robbery with a deadly weapon, battery of a peace officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm and shooting from a motor vehicle.
Following Nahle’s arrest for these offenses, he committed an additional offense of assaulting and impeding a federal employee. According to public court records, he assaulted a guard at the Sandoval County Detention Center on May 11, 2017. Nahle held the guard while another inmate kicked and punched the guard. Nahle pleaded guilty to this offense on Aug. 23, 2018. He is awaiting sentencing in this matter.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly A. Brawley and Eva M. Fontanez prosecuted the case.
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