District of New Mexico
James D. Tierney
Contact: Elizabeth M. Martinez
www.justice.gov/usao-nm
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Federal Meth Trafficking Conviction
Defendant One of 104 Individuals Federally Charged as the 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., was sentenced today in federal court to an 84-month prison term followed by four years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction.
Olivas was arrested during an ATF-led investigation that resulted in the filing of 59 federal indictments and a 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 with distribution of methamphetamine on July 27, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M. The indictment included forfeiture provisions requiring Olivas to forfeit $1,000. On Jan. 18, 2017, Olivas entered a guilty plea to the indictment under a plea agreement with the United States.
To date, 43 of the 104 defendants have entered guilty pleas, and 16 have 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.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Letitia C. Simms.
Phoenix Field Division