A man from Las Cruces, New Mexico, has been charged in federal court after an investigation led by the FBI resulted in the seizure of various drugs and firearms. The suspect, identified as David De La Paz, 59, is alleged to have been involved in narcotics distribution and illegal firearm possession.
According to court documents, the investigation began in late 2025 when the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency started looking into De La Paz and other individuals believed to be part of a drug trafficking organization operating in Las Cruces. Authorities say they obtained a federal search warrant for De La Paz’s residence on February 3, 2026. The warrant was executed two days later with support from the FBI Albuquerque SWAT team.
During their entry into the home, law enforcement observed De La Paz standing next to a loaded AR-15 style rifle on his bed. Agents recovered multiple loaded firearms—most found in his bedroom—as well as drug paraphernalia and suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, and about 30 grams of cocaine. All substances field tested presumptively positive.
De La Paz faces charges that include possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He will remain detained until his detention hearing is scheduled. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to 25 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison announced these charges on behalf of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Aragon Martinez is prosecuting the case.
"This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion," Ellison said. "The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States."
The HSTF Region II CORE 7 includes participation from several agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations (OFO), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) including Air and Marine Operations (AMO), Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Joint Task Force North (JTF-N), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshal Service (USMS), Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS), El Paso Police Department (EPPD), New Mexico State Police (NMSP), West Texas / New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program (HIDTA), Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Sixth Judicial District Court personnel, Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency—and prosecution led by offices for Western Texas and New Mexico districts.
Authorities remind that an indictment or criminal complaint is only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
