ALBUQUERQUE - Jason Harrison, 23, of Las Cruces, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to methamphetamine trafficking charges under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Harrison and his co-defendant Ashley Valenzuela, 23, also of Las Cruces, were arrested and charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and distribution of methamphetamine on July 1, 2016 and July 6, 2015, in Dona Ana County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Harrison pled guilty to the indictment. In entering the guilty plea, Harrison admitted that on July 1, 2016 and July 6, 2016, he worked with Valenzuela to distribute methamphetamine. Specifically, Harrison admitted that on July 1, 2016 and July 6, 2016, Harrison and Valenzuela sold methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement agents.
Valenzuela pled guilty to the same charges on Jan. 11, 2017. Valenzuela admitted that she and Harrison were working together and each had their own part in selling methamphetamine to the agents.
At sentencing, Harrison and Valenzuela face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Harrison and Valenzuela remain in custody pending sentencing hearings which have yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah M. Davenport of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
