ALBUQUERQUE – Gerry Billy Olivas, 39, of El Paso, Texas, pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to a cocaine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Olivas was arrested on Aug. 3, 2016, on a criminal complaint alleging that he possessed approximately 18.8 kilograms (41.44 pounds) of cocaine in Otero County, N.M. According to the complaint, Olivas was arrested on Aug. 3, 2016, after U.S. Border Patrol agents at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint south of Alamogordo, N.M., allegedly seized approximately 16.2 kilograms (35.71 pounds) of cocaine from Olivas’ vehicle. The agents also seized approximately 2.6 kilograms (5.73 pounds) of cocaine from a storage unit located in El Paso that was allegedly owned by Olivas.
During today’s proceedings, Olivas pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. In entering the guilty, Olivas admitted that on Aug. 3, 2016, he transported approximately 16.2 kilograms of cocaine with the intention of delivering the cocaine to another person. Olivas further admitted that he also possessed 2.6 kilograms of cocaine in a storage unit which he intended to deliver to another person.
At sentencing, Olivas faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Alamogordo station of the U.S. Border Patrol and the Las Cruces office of the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brock Taylor of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.