Albuquerque Man Convicted of Fentanyl Trafficking Following Multi-City High-Speed Pursuit

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Tevin King, 33, was the subject of an active federal arrest warrant on August 19, 2024, related to a supervised release violation.

Source: Department of Justice

ALBUQUERQUE – After a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted an Albuquerque man of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl following a high-speed pursuit through multiple New Mexico cities.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Tevin King, 33, was the subject of an active federal arrest warrant on August 19, 2024, related to a supervised release violation. Surveillance indicated King was in Hobbs, New Mexico, where agents observed a black Malibu departing a residence and tracked it as it traveled to Portales, New Mexico.

Law enforcement followed the vehicle to a Stripes gas station in Portales. There, the passenger exited the driver’s seat and entered the store, creating an opportunity for agents to move in on the vehicle. King, who had been concealed inside, then moved into the driver’s seat and fled as agents attempted to contain the car.

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During the pursuit, King drove at high speed while attempting to evade law enforcement. As agents followed closely, Kingdiscarded canvas tote bag from the driver’s side window near Eastern New Mexico University. The bag was observed by law enforcement and also by a civilian who retrieved the bag and delivered it to campus police. The bag contained approximately 16,000 fentanyl pills.

The pursuit continued into Clovis, New Mexico, where King’s vehicle collided with a law enforcement unit in a residential area, ending the chase and resulting in King’s arrest.

King was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Following the verdict, the Court ordered that King remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, King faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today.

Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Portales Police Department, Clovis Police Department, the Lea County Drug Task Force, and the Region V Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Mease and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuting this case.