NM man pleads guilty to federal methamphetamine trafficking charge

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A 30-year-old local man pleaded guilty Dec. 2 to an indictment charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

This case resulted from an investigation by special agents with U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Deluvino Elias Salazar's plea agreement requires the imposition of a 135-month prison sentence.

Salazar was arrested Oct. 7, 2012, as the result of an HSI-led investigation with the assistance of officers from the Albuquerque Police Department's narcotics unit. During this investigation, officers observed Salazar place a plastic bag into a vehicle and get into the front passenger seat. Shortly thereafter, the officers executed a traffic stop on the vehicle and seized the plastic bag, which had three plastic containers filled with methamphetamine.

In his plea agreement, Salazar admitted that Oct. 7, 2012, he met with an individual who, unknown to him, was a confidential informant who intended to distribute methamphetamine to him. Salazar further admitted bringing a plastic bag with three plastic containers filled with methamphetamine to the meeting. He also acknowledged that a forensic chemist determined that the plastic containers held about 1,331 grams of methamphetamine, including 998.16 grams of pure methamphetamine.

Salazar's sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Holland S. Kastrin and Novaline D. Wilson, District of New Mexico.