Belen man cops to heroin charge
Trafficker ran drug ring from jail
A Belen man pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to conspiracy to distribute heroin while locked up at the Sandoval County Detention Center.
Ismael Vargas, 29, faces up to 41 months in federal prison to be followed by supervised release, under his plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
During the court proceedings in Albuquerque, Vargas admitted that on Aug. 2, 2015, while he was an inmate at the Sandoval County Detention Center, he arranged for heroin to be delivered to the jail, according to the news release. He also admitted that he “facilitated the payment of money to a corrections officer to get the heroin into the jail.” Vargas remains in custody until a sentencing hearing, which hasn’t been scheduled.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said former Sandoval County Detention Center corrections officer Christopher Gonzales, 20, of Rio Rancho, and Fabrienne Rosalinda Morales, 39, of Peralta, were arrested in January 2016 on a five-count indictment charging them with conspiracy. The indictment also charged Gonzales with possession of heroin and suboxone with intent to distribute, and Morales with distribution of heroin and suboxone. Vargas was added to the indictment on Feb. 9, 2016, charging him with conspiracy. According to the superseding indictment, the three committed the crimes on Aug. 2, 2015.
Last month, on Feb. 28, Gonzales pled guilty to possessing heroin with intent to distribute. Gonzales admitted that on Aug. 2, 2015, while he was working as an officer at the Sandoval County Detention Center, he brought heroin to the detention center with the intention of delivering it to an inmate, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. A sentencing hearing for Gonzales is set for May 31.
Earlier this year, on Jan. 13, Morales pleaded guilty to distributing heroin, admitting that on Aug. 2, 2015, she smuggled heroin into the Sandoval County jail and gave it to a corrections officer, the news release reads. Under the terms of her plea agreement, Morales will be sentenced to not more than 24 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 17.