Alex Barraza, also known as Smiley, will now face life in prison according to a recent ruling by a federal court for his role as a leader of a drug trafficking organization with connections to the infamous Sinaloa Cartel. At 36 years old, the Albuquerque resident was convicted on multiple charges, including drug importation and money laundering, a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office describes.
Barraza's organization was no small-time operation; as per court documents, his group was responsible for smuggling an estimated 720 kilograms of methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States, primarily focused on distribution in Albuquerque. Alongside this heavy narcotic traffic, they moved roughly $1.7 million back across the border into Mexico. The importation and distribution network led by Barraza wore a grim countenance of danger and illegality. However, it was the count of murder resulting from his organization's activities that led to his life sentence.
Caught on April 9, 2021, Barraza pleaded guilty to a slew of charges on April 14, 2022, including conspiracy to import methamphetamine over 50 grams and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. His convictions also extended to more grave offenses related to gun use and a resulting murder tied to his drug trafficking endeavors.
In a statement procured by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Jaime Esparza, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, “The life sentence for Alex Barraza is a significant victory in our ongoing battle against drug trafficking and its devastating effects on our communities.”
Meanwhile, Jason T. Stevens, acting special agent in charge of HSI El Paso, underscored the collaborative nature of the investigation that led to Barraza’s apprehension and conviction. "By combining resources, authorities, and intelligence with our law enforcement partners, we’re seeking to identify and dismantle these vast criminal networks one by one, proving that every criminal is within arm’s reach of the law," Stevens stated, as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The investigations were conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Johnston and Andres Ortega led the case prosecution, with additional assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.
