NM man sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison for drug trafficking, illegally possessing firearms

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A New Mexico man was sentenced Wednesday to 133 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release following his guilty plea on methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges.

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

Jean Claud Mills, 32, was arrested May 16, 2014, on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Mills subsequently was indicted on those same charges June 11, 2014.

Court records reflect that in May 2014, Mills was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he previously had been convicted of felony offenses including possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to tamper with evidence.

According to the criminal complaint, Mills attempted to sell a pound of methamphetamine May 14, 2014, to Albuquerque Police Department undercover detectives for $13,000.  APD detectives recovered a handgun and two magazines of ammunition from an open glove compartment in Mills’ vehicle.

On March 31, 2015, Mills pleaded guilty to the charges. Mills admitted that on May 15, 2014, he sold a pound of methamphetamine to two men for $13,000, and was arrested by law enforcement officers before he got into his vehicle to leave.  Mills further admitted that on that day he possessed a firearm even though he was a convicted felon and was on probation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano Torrez, District of New Mexico, prosecuted this case.