Gregory M. Millard, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s El Paso Division, and Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that a federal jury on March 30 returned a guilty verdict against Eloy Romero. The jury convicted Romero, 47, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, on one count each of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Judith C. Herrera presided.
The case against Romero was part of a February 25, 2021, tactical operation by the Albuquerque Police Department in the Southwest Area Command. During the operation, members of the APD Gang Unit observed Romero engage in suspicious behavior in a business parking lot. They approached Romero’s vehicle with emergency equipment engaged, but Romero drove away from the area, disregarding their lights and sirens. APD followed but temporarily disengaged to avoid a dangerous pursuit. Eventually, Romero pulled over and was approached by the investigating officers.
Officers determined that Romero’s vehicle had a suspended registration and Romero had a suspended driver’s license. Officers decided to tow the vehicle, pursuant to department policy. During an inventory of the vehicle, officers discovered suspected fentanyl and a firearm. They immediately sealed the vehicle and sought a search warrant. During execution of the search warrant, officers located a black backpack in the back seat that contained 352 grams of methamphetamine, 1,876 tablets of fentanyl, numerous rounds of .22 ammunition and a .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Romero will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. He faces a minimum of fifteen years in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Albuquerque District Office and Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nora Wilson and Joseph M. Spindle.
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