EL PASO, Texas - A New Mexico man was sentenced in federal court today to life in prison for four counts related to his role as the leader of a transnational criminal organization with ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel.

According to court documents, Alex Barraza aka Smiley, 36, of Albuquerque, was the leader of the Barraza Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), which was responsible for the importation of methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States for distribution in Albuquerque. Barraza's DTO smuggled an estimated 720 kgs of narcotics into the U.S., and approximately $1.7 million USD into Mexico.

Barraza was arrested April 9, 2021. He pleaded guilty on April 14, 2022 to one count of conspiracy to import 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; one count of murder resulting from the use and carrying of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; one count of use and carrying of firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

"The life sentence for Alex Barraza is a significant victory in our ongoing battle against drug trafficking and its devastating effects on our communities," said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. "We are committed to dismantling the networks that threaten our safety and livelihood, and I commend our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the New Mexico State Police, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico, for their commitment and pursuit of justice."

"This sentence proves how HSI can be the worst-case scenario for transnational criminal organizations that smuggle dangerous drugs into our country, and profit from poisoning our communities," said Jason T. Stevens, acting special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. "By combining resources, authorities, and intelligence with our law enforcement partners, we're seeking to identify and dismantle these vast criminal networks one by one, proving that every criminal is within arm's reach of the law."

HSI and the New Mexico State Police investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Johnston and Andres Ortega prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico assisted with the prosecution.

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