A Hagerman man was sentenced on Mar. 10 to 100 months in federal prison after being found guilty of multiple firearms and drug trafficking offenses, according to court documents. Jorge De La Cruz, 30, a previously convicted felon, faced sentencing following several encounters with law enforcement between June 2022 and January 2025 that resulted in the recovery of stolen firearms and large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address the possession and distribution of illegal drugs and firearms by individuals with prior felony convictions. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, De La Cruz was repeatedly found in possession of firearms and narcotics during incidents in Roswell and other locations in New Mexico. On June 28, 2022, Roswell Police officers responded to a report involving De La Cruz armed and using drugs; they recovered a loaded stolen .38 revolver along with methamphetamine from his vehicle. Further incidents included a February 7, 2023 traffic stop by Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force agents who seized additional drugs and firearms, as well as an April 16, 2024 search warrant execution where more weapons and narcotics were found at a residence linked to De La Cruz.
On October 2, 2024, Pecos Valley Drug Task Force agents recovered nearly 15 grams of methamphetamine along with fentanyl, cocaine, and multiple firearms from De La Cruz’s vehicle during a traffic stop. At a highway checkpoint on January 7, 2025, Border Patrol agents discovered over ninety grams of fentanyl as well as methamphetamine, a stolen firearm, drug paraphernalia, and ammunition inside his vehicle. Phone records later confirmed he had coordinated the distribution of these narcotics.
De La Cruz pled guilty on October 21, 2025 to five counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and two counts related to fentanyl distribution. Upon release from prison he will be subject to five years supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said the announcement was made jointly with Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso. The case was investigated by HSI El Paso with assistance from the Roswell Police Department U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kirk Williams and Renee Camacho prosecuted.
