U.S. Attorney's Office and Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office Collaborate to Secure Sentencing in Albuquerque Drug and Gun Case

ALBUQUERQUE - A Mexican national was sentenced to 11 years in prison for federal drug and firearms offenses, following his arrest by New Mexico State Police agents in December 2022.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on December 6, 2022, a New Mexico State Police Agent patrolling in Albuquerque identified a stolen pickup truck parked at the Sun apartment complex. The vehicle had been reported stolen by the Los Lunas Police Department on November 16, 2022.

Agents followed the truck, deployed a tire deflation device, and arrested the driver, Mario Figueroa-Camarillo, 40, when he stopped.

During the arrest, officers seized a loaded 9mm magazine, two cell phones, and $1,786 in cash from Figueroa-Camarillo's person. Figueroa-Camarillo was wearing a GPS ankle monitor as a condition of pretrial release in a case pending at that time in the Second Judicial District Court. A search of the truck revealed approximately 66 grams of methamphetamine, 18 fentanyl pills, a digital scale, a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol, and a GPS charging device.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Figueroa-Camarillo will be subject to deportation proceedings.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman made the announcement today.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and New Mexico State Police investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Haynes prosecuted the case as part of an agreement with the Second Judicial District Attorney's Office.

Through the agreement, Assistant District Attorneys are designated Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) in the United States Attorney's Office. The SAUSA from the Second Judicial District Attorney's Office screens felony criminal complaints filed in Bernalillo County for federal criminal offenses, prioritizing federal charges against those who drive violence in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Since 2020, the United States Attorney's Office has reviewed almost 3,000 cases and has charged more than 300 criminal cases pursuant to this program.

The United States Attorney's Office has similar agreements with the New Mexico Department of Justice and the First Judicial District Attorney's Office and plans to expand the program throughout the state.

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