Defendant is One of 104 Individuals Federally Charged as a
Result of ATF-Led Investigation Pursued in Support of Federal “Worst of the
Worst” Anti-Violence Initiative
ALBUQUERQUE – Rumaldo Olivas, 27, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled
guilty today in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge. Under
the terms of his plea agreement, Olivas will be sentenced to 84 months in
prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.
Olivas was arrested during an ATF-led investigation that
resulted in the filing of 59 federal indictments and one federal criminal
complaint charging 104 Bernalillo County residents with federal firearms and
narcotics trafficking offenses. The investigation began in mid-April 2016, when
ATF personnel from throughout the country joined forces with federal, state,
county and local law enforcement agencies in New Mexico to combat the high rate
of violent crime in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. The investigators
utilized a number of investigative techniques, including undercover operations,
historical investigation and targeting of multi-convicted felons in possession
of firearms.
The investigation was undertaken in support of a federal
anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for
federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and
federal law enforcement agencies collaborate with New Mexico’s District
Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target
violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution primarily based on their
prior criminal convictions with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities
in New Mexico for as long as possible.
Olivas was arrested in Aug. 2016, on an indictment charging
him distribution of methamphetamine on July 27, 2016, in Bernalillo County,
N.M. The indictment included forfeiture provisions requiring Olivas to forfeit
$1,000. During today’s proceedings, Olivas entered a guilty plea to the
indictment. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to
be scheduled.
To date, 21 of the 104 defendants have entered guilty pleas
and one has been sentenced. The remaining defendants have entered not guilty
pleas. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are
presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Mysliwiec and Letitia C. Simms are prosecuting
the case.
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