ALBUQUERQUE - Rupesh Bhakta, 38, of Farmington, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a methamphetamine trafficking charge. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Bhakta will be sentenced within the range of 24 to 60 months in prison.
Bhakta was arrested on March 4, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with trafficking methamphetamine in San Juan County, N.M. According to the complaint, Bhakta sold approximately 57 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent on Feb. 16, 2016.
Bhakta and his co-defendant David Kingsbeck, 43, also of Farmington, were subsequently indicted on March 23, 2016. Kingsbeck was charged individually with being a felon in possession of a firearm on July 1, 2015 and Dec. 30, 2015, and distribution of heroin on Dec. 30, 2015. Bhakta and Kingsbeck were charged jointly with conspiracy and distribution of methamphetamine on Feb. 16, 2016. According to the indictment, the offenses took place in San Juan County. Kingsbeck was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of his prior felony convictions for criminal conspiracy theft and escape attempt from felony.
During today’s proceedings, Bhakta pled guilty to an information charging him with distribution of methamphetamine. In entering the guilty plea, Bhakta admitted that on Feb. 16, 2016, he distributed methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent. Bhakta remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
Kingsbeck has entered a plea of not guilty. He remains in custody pending trial which is currently scheduled for Jan. 2017. Charges in criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo R. Armijo is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
