NM man receives 17 years for methamphetamine trafficking, firearms conviction

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Farmington, N.M., man was sentenced Monday to 17 years in federal prison for convictions for methamphetamine trafficking and using a firearm for drug trafficking.

This sentence resulted from an investigation by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Lindsey Joe Brown II, 40, was also sentenced to serve five years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence.

Brown was indicted in March 2012 and charged with participating in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. According to the indictment, Brown committed these crimes in San Juan County, N.M., in October 2011. Brown was arrested April 5, 2012, and has been in federal custody since that time.

On March 14, 2013, Brown pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, as well as the firearms offense. He admitted that, on Oct. 26, 2011, he agreed to sell methamphetamine to a person who was working as an informant.

Law enforcement officers conducted surveillance as Brown drove from Farmington to Cuba, N.M., where he purchased methamphetamine from his supplier. While Brown was traveling back to Farmington, the officers obtained a search warrant for Brown's 2009 Ford Mustang. When the officers executed the search warrant, they found a box in the Mustang's trunk that contained more than 200 grams of methamphetamine. In the center console of the Mustang, the officers found a fully loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol and other 9mm ammunition. Brown was arrested on state charges, which were later dismissed after Brown was arrested on federal charges.

As required by the terms of his plea agreement, Brown forfeited the Mustang used to transport the methamphetamine, and the firearm and ammunition found in the vehicle.

The Region II Narcotics Task Force and the 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office assisted with this investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn W.Y. Wang prosecuted this case; Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia L. Weisman handled the forfeiture proceedings.