Doña Ana man sentenced to eight years for fentanyl trafficking, illegal firearm possession
Jaime Lopez, 35, was sentenced to 96 months in prison after agents found fentanyl and a stolen gun during an attempted arrest in Las Cruces.
Agents recovered 690 fentanyl pills and a stolen handgun during 2024 arrest in Las Cruces
Organ Mountain News report
LAS CRUCES - A Doña Ana man will serve eight years in federal prison after agents recovered fentanyl and a stolen firearm during an attempted arrest in Las Cruces.
According to court records, on May 21, 2024, FBI task force officers and Las Cruces/Doña Ana County Metro Narcotics agents attempted to stop a vehicle tied to an ongoing fentanyl trafficking investigation. The driver, later identified as Jaime Lopez, 35, fled at high speed. Officers did not pursue due to public safety concerns.
Agents later learned the vehicle had recently been purchased by Lopez, who was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear. About three hours later, officers found the vehicle in Las Cruces and saw Lopez leave a public establishment with two others. As officers approached, Lopez ran, discarding a package that contained about 690 fentanyl pills.
Officers arrested Lopez a short time later and recovered a stolen handgun from a backpack inside the vehicle. In a post-arrest interview, Lopez admitted fleeing because of the warrant and discarding the pills to avoid being caught with them. He also admitted possessing the firearm for protection, saying he had previously sold drugs in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and feared retaliation from former associates.
At the time, Lopez was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions, including a 2005 conviction for second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.
Lopez later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
After his prison term, he will serve five years of supervised release.
The FBI’s Las Cruces Resident Agency investigated the case with assistance from Metro Narcotics, the Las Cruces Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo prosecuted.
