ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Michael Anthony Hernandez, 46, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on March 23 to 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and maintaining a drug-involved premises.
Hernandez plead guilty to these offenses on Oct.21, 2021. According to the plea agreement, on Dec. 1, 2020, law enforcement executed search warrants on two of Hernandez’s properties in Bernalillo County, New Mexico and discovered narcotics and other items consistent with packaging narcotics. Specifically, law enforcement discovered more than 12.75 kilograms of methamphetamine, an electric money counter, several scales and bulk currency.
The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Community Action Team investigated this case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program’s operation Atonement. OCDETF is a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo, Randy M. Castellano and Ry Ellison prosecuted this case.