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According to court records, on April 10, 2024, FBI Southern New Mexico Safe Streets Gang Task Force agents and Task Force Officers along with agents from Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics executed a federal search warrant at the residence of Joe Angel Sandoval, 29, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, uncovering substantial evidence of drug trafficking.
Source: Department of Justice
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after a federal search warrant uncovered large quantities of fentanyl, firearms, and cash linked to drug trafficking activities.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on April 10, 2024, FBI Southern New Mexico Safe Streets Gang Task Force agents and Task Force Officers along with agents from Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics executed a federal search warrant at the residence of Joe Angel Sandoval, 29, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, uncovering substantial evidence of drug trafficking.
During the search, investigators located:
- Over 500 grams of fentanyl pills.
- Three firearms and ammunition.
- Approximately $139,857 in cash was found inside the residence, along with $1,900 in Sandoval’s vehicle.
In his plea agreement, Sandoval admitted to being an unlawful user of fentanyl at the time of the search and acknowledged selling the fentanyl pills for approximately three to four years, making him a prohibited possessor of firearms and ammunition under federal law.
Upon his release, Sandoval will be subject to 10 years of supervised release.
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Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, Las Cruces Police Department, and Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Y. Armijo prosecuted this case.
