ALBUQUERQUE – Suzanne Marie Villa, 36, of Carlsbad, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to a methamphetamine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Villa was arrested on Aug. 25, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging her with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on June 12, 2015, in Eddy County, N.M. According to the criminal complaint, Villa was arrested after Pecos Valley Drug Task Force agents notified U.S. Border Patrol Agents at the Border Patrol Checkpoint on Highway 62/180 near El Paso, Texas, to be on the lookout for her vehicle based on investigation indicating that Villa would be transporting drugs to Carlsbad. The U.S. Border Patrol later seized 25.7 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia from Villa’s vehicle during a checkpoint inspection. Villa was subsequently indicted on Nov. 19, 2015, and charged with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute on June 12, 2015, in Eddy County.
During today’s proceedings, Villa pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on June 12, 2015, she was stopped by law enforcement officers and found to be in possession of 25.7 grams of methamphetamine together with other items associated with methamphetamine trafficking including a scale, plastic bags, a glass smoking pipe and $820.00 in cash.
At sentencing, Villa faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison followed by not less than three years of supervised release. Villa remains detained pending her sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Selesia Lee Winston of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.