Mexican man sentenced in New Mexico to more than 4 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Mexican man, illegally residing in the United States, was sentenced Thursday to 50 months in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking.

Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case. New Mexico State Police assisted with this investigation.

After he completes his prison sentence, Massiel Segoviano-Fierro, 25, will be turned over to ICE and placed in removal proceedings.

Segoviano-Fierro and his co-defendant Juan Carlos Nieblas-Ruelas, 28, also a Mexican national illegally residing in the United States, were arrested in November 2015.  Both were charged Nov. 23, 2015, by criminal complaint with conspiracy and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The two men were arrested after they attempted to sell about 10 pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent. 

On Feb. 22, 2016, Segoviano-Fierro pleaded guilty to a felony information charging him with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  In entering his guilty plea, Segoviano-Fierro admitted that on Nov. 23, 2015, in Bernalillo County, he attempted to sell methamphetamine to an individual who unbeknownst to him was an undercover law enforcement agent.  Segoviano-Fierro further admitted that he collaborated with Nieblas-Ruelas to obtain about 10 pounds of methamphetamine to sell and distribute in Albuquerque.

On Jan. 22, 2016, Nieblas-Ruelas pleaded guilty to a similar felony information and admitted that on Nov. 23, 2015, he provided methamphetamine to Segoviano-Fierro knowing that Segoviano-Fierro intended to sell it to another person.  Nieblas-Ruelas was sentenced Nov. 1, 2016, to six years in federal prison. He also will be turned over to ICE and placed in removal proceedings after he completes his prison sentence.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh, District of New Mexico.