NM man pleads guilty to methamphetamine trafficking

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A Deming, New Mexico, man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to methamphetamine trafficking, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to the terms of his plea agreement, Andy Garcia Jr., 43, will be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Garcia was charged with co-defendants: Leslie Frank Williams, 52, and Domingo Rodriguez, 46, both of Deming; Oscar Garcia, 46, of Oklahoma; and Estella Aguilar, 44, of Tucson, Arizona, in a nine-count indictment filed April 21.

The indictment alleged that the five co-defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine from July 2015 through April 2016.  It also charged Williams with distributing methamphetamine on four occasions between January and September 2015. Williams and Rodriguez were charged with distributing methamphetamine in November 2015.  Rodriguez, Oscar Garcia and Andy Garcia were charged with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute in January 2016.

The indictment charged Rodriguez, Oscar Garcia and Aguilar with conspiring to commit money laundering offenses on Feb. 10, and Aguilar with money laundering Feb. 10. According to the indictment, the crimes took place in Luna County, New Mexico. The indictment included forfeiture allegations requiring the co-defendants to forfeit $1 million to the United States.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Andy Garcia pleaded guilty to a felony information charging him with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. In entering this guilty plea, Andy Garcia admitted that on Jan. 4 he traveled by bus from Deming to California to pick up two pounds of methamphetamine. He further admitted that on Jan. 6, law enforcement agents seized his bag, which contained the methamphetamine while he was on the bus returning to Deming. Andy Garcia remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. 

Rodriguez entered a guilty plea Sept. 13; Williams pleaded guilty plea Sept. 20.  Sentencing hearings have yet to be scheduled.  The remaining two co-defendants have entered not guilty pleas to the charges in the indictment. 

Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.