A trucking company owner has been sentenced to decades in federal prison after admitting to illegal firearm possession and drug trafficking.
On August 26, 50 year old Albuquerque resident Javier Jaquez was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico.
In September 2020, Jaquez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 100 grams and more of heroin, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Jaquez admitted to storing drugs at his business, Jaquez Brothers Trucking, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and over 100 grams of heroin.
In a plea agreement, Jaquez admitted to conspiring with others to sell large amounts of methamphetamine with other people acting at his direction starting in August 2017. At one point during the investigation into the trafficking conspiracy, a confidential informant told DEA agents that Jaquez had 70 pounds of meth on the trucking company property that was intended for distribution.
After multiple drug transactions, Jaquez arranged to sell 20 pounds of methamphetamine in an empty lot behind a McDonald’s on July 27, 2018. When law enforcement moved in to arrest him, he tried to flee with accomplice Freddie Sanchez, but both men were cornered and arrested.
Officers discovered .45 caliber pistol and two rifles in Jaquez’s possession, as well as ammunition for the firearms. As a convicted felon, Jaquez cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Sanchez also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm in furtherance of such a crime in September 2020.
In March 2021, Sanchez was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
A third co-conspirator, Kevin Garcia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and distribution of 50 grams and more of methamphetamine in September 2020 and has been sentenced to three years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Field Division as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).