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Published on November 08, 2024
Federal Operation Dismantles Major Drug Trafficking Conspiracy in Las Cruces, Charges Fourteen IndividualsSource: Google Street View

A major drug trafficking conspiracy in Las Cruces, New Mexico has been dismantled through a coordinated operation by the DEA, HSI, and several other law enforcement agencies, leading to charges against fourteen individuals. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the defendants are accused of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Among those charged are Armando Conrad Gonzales, Jessica Juel Henderson, and Kenneth Eric Yeager, facing anywhere from 20 years to life in prison if convicted, the investigation brought to light multiple instances of drug sales and transportation. During the operation, spanning over several months, significant quantities of illegal substances and firearms were seized, with Beserra caught in March 2023 with 182 fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and a firearm and Henderson selling fentanyl and a shotgun to an undercover agent in May 2024, among other incidents.

Additionally, on November 6, search warrants were executed at six properties associated with the drug operations these locations included a central hub for Gonzales at 5301 Bell Road SW and a distribution point at his mother's house at 3115 El Camino Real. The total seizures from the investigative and arrest phases included over 1,000 grams each of methamphetamine and fentanyl, along with 13 firearms and cash.

"As federal prosecutors, we are known for leading investigations into international drug cartels and major drug trafficking organizations. But in order for those organizations to make their money, local networks of drug traffickers must peddle their poison to the streets," U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez stated, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James added, "This operation is just one example of how the DEA will partner with other law enforcement to put them out of business and bring them to justice."

The investigation and subsequent takedowns are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative and the New Mexico High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, both aim to dismantle significant criminal operations involving drugs. Assistant United States Attorneys Kirk Williams and Renee Camacho are prosecuting these cases, with the operation underscoring the commitment of federal and local agencies to fight the spread of illegal narcotics in American communities.