NM man sentenced to 5 years for drug trafficking, illegally possessing firearms as a previously convicted felon

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A New Mexico man was sentenced Wednesday to five years in federal prison for his methamphetamine trafficking and firearms convictions.

Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case.

Alex Bernard Fletcher, 41, of Albuquerque, must also serve five years on supervised release after he completes his prison sentence, and must perform 50 hours of community service.

Fletcher was arrested Nov. 5, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The criminal complaint charged Fletcher with distributing about 51 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer Oct. 28, 2015, in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.  As officers were closing in to make the arrest, they observed Fletcher reach into his waistband and throw a firearm to the ground in an attempt to conceal it from the officers.

Fletcher was indicted Dec. 2, 2015, and was charged with being a felon illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, distributing methamphetamine, and using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  According to the indictment, in late October 2015, Fletcher was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of several felony offenses.

On Aug. 30, 2016, Fletcher pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with distributing methamphetamine, and using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  In entering the guilty plea, Fletcher admitted selling 51 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer.  Fletcher also admitted that he possessed a firearm during the drug deal to facilitate his drug trafficking crime.  Fletcher acknowledged that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Albuquerque Police Department assisted with this investigation.