Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Oklahoma Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Federal Drug and Firearms Charges
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Caesar Nathanial James Crayton, 47, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced on Sept. 22 to 25 years in prison. On Feb. 16, a federal jury convicted Crayton on one count each of possession with intent to distribute five grams and more of methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
On Aug. 16, 2020, Crayton approached a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 10 west of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Crayton consented to a canine inspection of his vehicle, during which the canine alerted. During a hand search of the vehicle, agents located 53 grams of methamphetamine, a .45 caliber pistol, 537 rounds of ammunition, one 25-round ammunition magazine, one 13-round magazine, one 17-round magazine, $6,853 in U.S. currency and 10 soles in Peruvian currency.
At the time of the incident, Crayton previously had been convicted of multiple felonies. As a convicted felon, Crayton cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Upon his release from prison, Crayton will be subject to eight years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Joni Autrey Stahl and Renee L. Camacho prosecuted the case.