ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Manuel A. Gonzalez, 49, a Mexican national residing in Bosque, New Mexico, appeared in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico yesterday for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint charging him with importation of a controlled substance.
According to the complaint, Gonzalez allegedly drove his pickup truck from Mexico to the Santa Teresa port of entry on Oct. 10, 2019. Gonzalez allegedly had about nine kilograms of heroin concealed in the tailgate of his truck when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers inspected his vehicle.
Gonzalez is a lawful permanent resident of the United States. He is currently in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for October 18. He faces from ten years to life in prison if convicted of the charged offense. A criminal complaint is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joni A. Stahl of the Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
