Charge Arises out of Seizure of Almost Nine Pounds of Cocaine
ALBUQUERQUE - Carlos Ivan Todd, 30, of Canutillo, Texas, pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to cocaine trafficking charges arising from the seizure of 4.06 kilograms (8.95 pounds) of cocaine at the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint near Las Cruces.
The DEA arrested Todd and co-defendant Candy May Gonzales, 33, also of Canutillo, Texas, in Oct. 2017, on a criminal complaint charging them with possession of 4.0 kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute in Dona Ana County, N.M. According to the complaint, Todd and Gonzales were arrested after Border Patrol Agents at the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint on I-25 near Las Cruces, seized three bundles of cocaine concealed in Todd’s vehicle.
During today’s proceedings, Todd pled guilty to a felony information charging him with conspiracy and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. In entering the guilty plea, Todd admitted that on Oct. 8, 2017, he drove a vehicle containing 4.06 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a compartment in the vehicle into the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint on I-25 north of Las Cruces. Todd admitted that he previously agreed with other individuals to drive the cocaine from El Paso, Texas to Albuquerque, N.M., for further distribution.
At sentencing, Todd faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
Co-defendant Gonzales has waived the right to a preliminary hearing and a grand jury presentment, and has been ordered detained pending trial.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Balla of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
