ALBUQUERQUE - Lindsey Joe Brown, II, 40, of Farmington, N.M., was sentenced this morning to 17 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking and firearms conviction. Brown’s sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales, District Attorney Rick P. Tedrow for the 11th Judicial District of the State of New Mexico in San Juan County, Special Agent in Charge Dennis A. Ulrich, II, of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso, Texas, and Lt. Neil Haws, Director of the Region II Narcotics Task Force.
Brown was indicted in March 2012 and charged with participation 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 Oct. 2011. Brown was arrested on 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 and the firearms offense and admitted that, on Oct. 26, 2011, he agreed to sell methamphetamine to a person who unbeknownst to him 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.9 mm semi-automatic pistol and other.9 mm 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.
This case was investigated by HSI’s Albuquerque office and the Region II Narcotics Task Force, with assistance from the 11th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn W.Y. Wang prosecuted the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia L. Weisman handled the forfeiture proceedings.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
