Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ALBUQUERQUE – In Aug. 2016, a multi-agency investigation led by the ATF concluded with the filing of 59 federal indictments and a federal criminal complaint charging 103 Bernalillo County residents with federal firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses.  To date, 84 of these defendants have been convicted, including 83 who have entered guilty pleas, and 60 of them have been sentenced.

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.

This week two Albuquerque residents were sentenced in federal court for their convictions on drug trafficking charges.  Jesus Parra, 30, was sentenced on Feb. 5, 2018, to 63 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction.  Timothy Dilley, 35, was sentenced today to 19 months in prison followed by six years of supervised release for his heroin and methamphetamine trafficking conviction.

Parra was charged in an indictment filed on June 30, 2016, with distribution of methamphetamine on May 12, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  On June 12, 2017, Parra pled guilty to an information charging him with distribution of methamphetamine and admitted that on May 12, 2016, he distributed methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent. 

Dilley and co-defendant Jonathan Aragon, 38, were arrested in July 2016, based on an indictment alleging that they participated in a drug trafficking conspiracy, and distributed methamphetamine and heroin in June 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  On Sept. 26, 2016, Dilley pled guilty to distributing heroin and methamphetamine on June 15, 2016.  In entering the guilty plea, Dilley admitted selling heroin and methamphetamine to an undercover ATF agent.  Aragon pled guilty on Jan. 20, 2017, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2018.

Sixteen of the defendants charged as the result of the ATF investigation have entered not guilty pleas.  Charges in indictments are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.   Two defendants are fugitives and the charges against two defendants have been dismissed.

These cases were investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF, and Parra and Dilley were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers.