New Mexico man sentenced to federal prison for heroin trafficking

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –  A New Mexico man was sentenced Thursday to 70 months in federal prison for heroin trafficking, to be followed by four  years of supervised release following his release from prison. This sentence resulted from an investigation conducted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). 

Erik Molinar-Gonzalez, 32, of Los Lunas, New Mexico, was arrested in September 2015 and charged by criminal complaint with heroin and methamphetamine trafficking offenses. According to the complaint, on Sept. 9, 2015, New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officers found a kilogram of heroin in a vehicle during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. An investigation revealed that the heroin was to be delivered to Molinar-Gonzalez later that same day.

Later that day, HSI special agents and NMSP officers arrested Molinar-Gonzalez and executed searches of his vehicle and residence. Authorities found 7.35 grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle, and 45.5 grams of methamphetamine and 9.17 grams of heroin in his residence.

Molinar-Gonzalez was indicted Oct. 7, 2015, and charged with possessing heroin and methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On Jan. 12, Molinar-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with intent to distribute.

This case was investigated by HSI Albuquerque and the NMSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.