Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl after fleeing from officers attempting to arrest him on a warrant.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on May 15, 2024, Las Cruces Police Department officers attempted to arrest Guillermo Yanez, 47, on an outstanding warrant out of El Paso, Texas, for tampering with evidence in a narcotics case. When officers approached, Yanez fled on foot, jumping a wall into an apartment complex. During the chase, officers saw him reach into his waistband in an apparent attempt to discard contraband. After deploying less-lethal munitions that were ineffective, officers apprehended Yanez and found methamphetamine in his pocket along with cash.
A search of the area where Yanez fled turned up a container holding fentanyl-laced pills and powdered fentanyl. In total, officers recovered approximately 50 grams of pure methamphetamine and 99 grams of fentanyl. In a post-arrest interview, Yanez admitted the drugs were his, that he had thrown the fentanyl container during the chase, and that he distributed drugs to support his methamphetamine use.
Yanez pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Upon his release from prison, Yanez will be subject to four years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department and Las Cruces/Doña Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.