AlamogordoTownNews.org reports that the Department of Justice New Mexico office released information on the most recent arrests, convictions and plea agreements for the week. Below is highlights of the most recent actions…
A Mexican national was sentenced to 117 months in prison and ordered to pay a $600 special assessment for attempting to destroy an unmanned aerial system and federal drug trafficking offenses in New Mexico.
According to court documents, on July 3, 2023, officers from the Albuquerque Police Department tracked Rogelio Rodriguez-Salas, 29, a Mexican national who had previously been deported and was illegally present in the United States, by using a drone while he was in possession of a stolen vehicle. In an attempt to evade surveillance, Rodriguez-Salasfired a handgun at the drone to damage and disable it. Following this incident, he was arrested but subsequently released into the community.
Weeks later, on July 21, 2023, deputies from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department encountered Rodriguez-Salas again. He was found in possession of a revolver while engaged in drug trafficking activities and driving another stolen vehicle. At that time, he had more than four grams of fentanyl intended for distribution when stopped by deputies. His illegal presence in the U.S. prohibited him from possessing both firearms and ammunition.