Alexander M.M. Uballez U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico
Federal law enforcement officials have arrested two men in Albuquerque following the execution of search warrants that revealed a large collection of weapons, drugs, and evidence linked to a drug trafficking operation associated with the Cibola County Correctional Center.
Court records indicate that Michael “Gomer” Ernest Garcia, 46, was apprehended on outstanding federal and state warrants. Eric Edwards, 36, was also taken into custody on a state warrant.
Garcia's arrest marks the conclusion of an investigation into a conspiracy involving both incarcerated and non-incarcerated individuals who established a network for introducing contraband into the Cibola County Correctional Center located in Milan, New Mexico.
Authorities seized numerous items from Garcia’s residence during the operation. The confiscated items included sixteen firearms—among them one pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device—five AR-15 rifles, two AR-15 pistols, one AK-47 rifle, more than two dozen high-capacity magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition in various calibers, as well as controlled substances such as methamphetamine and heroin.
Garcia had been evading capture for over two years and was listed on the "METRO 15" wanted poster.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez; Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office; and David Barnett, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Albuquerque Division Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF) and United States Marshals Service with assistance from CoreCivic Intelligence Unit and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul Mysliwiec and David Hirsch are prosecuting this case.
The VGTF is led by the FBI and includes agents and officers from several local law enforcement agencies including New Mexico State Police, Rio Rancho Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and Albuquerque Police Department.
