Joe Anthony Reza, 33, of Artesia, was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces for his conviction on federal firearms and drug trafficking offenses.
Reza will serve 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Reza was arrested June 6, 2015, on charges of distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Feb. 24, 2015, in Eddy County. According to the complaint, agents with the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Reza’s residence on Feb. 24, 2015, and seized approximately 117 grams of meth, three firearms, a marijuana plant, and digital scales. At the time, Reza was arrested on state charges, which were later dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.
Reza pleaded guilty Aug. 19, 2015.
The case was investigated by the Las Cruces Office of the DEA and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force with assistance from the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brock Taylor of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.
The Pecos Valley Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office and Artesia and Carlsbad Police Departments, and is part of the HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force.
