Last of 3 NM drug traffickers pleads guilty to trafficking methamphetamine

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The last of three New Mexico drug traffickers pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to trafficking methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Sylvia Grado, 31; and co-defendants Juan Grado, 34, and Carlos Magallanes, 34; all from Deming, New Mexico, were arrested in July 2014 on a seven-count indictment alleging methamphetamine trafficking. All three defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Luna County, New Mexico, between October 2012 and May 2013. Juan Grado and Magallanes are charged with distributing methamphetamine in Luna County on several occasions. Sylvia Grado is charged with distributing methamphetamine May 14, 2013. 

In her plea agreement, Sylvia Grado admitted that between October 2012 and May 2013, she conspired with Juan Grado and Magallanes to distribute methamphetamine.  She further admitted that on May 14, 2013, she distributed about 28 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer.

Juan Grado pleaded guilty Jan. 2, 2015, admitting he distributed about 453 grams of pure methamphetamine. Magallanes pleaded guilty Jan. 16, and admitted he conspired with Juan Grado and others to distribute methamphetamine from October 2012 through January 2013.

At sentencing, Sylvia Grado and Juan Grado each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison. Magallanes faces a mandatory minimum of five years, and a maximum of 40 years in prison. Sylvia Grado remains on conditions of release and under pretrial supervision pending her sentencing hearing. Juan Grado and Magallanes remain in federal custody pending their sentencing hearings, which have yet to be set.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis A. Martinez, Las Cruces Branch Office, is prosecuting this case.