Ten Charged in Grant County Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

ALBUQUERQUE - Ten individuals have been charged in a federal indictment alleging they participated in a Grant County drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout southwest New Mexico between 2023 and 2026.

According to court documents, Margarita Encarnacion Dominguez, 43, is alleged to have led a Grant County drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl between August 2023 and June 2026. The indictment alleges Dominguez obtained narcotics from Arizona-based supplier Marco Elias Martinez, 32, coordinated couriers to transport drugs and cash between Arizona and New Mexico, collected payments through wire transfers and electronic payment applications, and redistributed methamphetamine and fentanyl through a network of family members and associates.

The indictment alleges Martinez supplied Dominguez with multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine and hundreds of grams of fentanyl for redistribution throughout southwest New Mexico. Investigators allege the two regularly communicated about drug shipments, payments, couriers, inventory levels, and customer demand. On multiple occasions, Dominguez allegedly sent couriers carrying thousands of dollars in cash to Arizona to purchase narcotics, while Martinez coordinated the delivery of methamphetamine and fentanyl to New Mexico.

The indictment further alleges that Dominguez relied on several co-conspirators to distribute narcotics and transport drug proceeds. Her son, Danny Joe Muñoz, 26, is alleged to have possessed and distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl obtained through the conspiracy. Her nephew, Joshua Jake Padilla, 33, allegedly sought methamphetamine and fentanyl for redistribution and used cellular phones to coordinate drug transactions. Angelica R'Shae Salas, 32, and Michael Joseph Alirez, 41, allegedly purchased methamphetamine from Dominguez, pooled money to finance narcotics purchases, and made trips to Arizona to retrieve drug shipments on behalf of the organization.

According to the indictment, Patrick Flores, 40, acted as a courier and distributor for the organization and, on August 2, 2024, allegedly delivered approximately 3.1 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 200 grams of fentanyl to Dominguez. Cynthia Jimenez, 42, allegedly received distribution quantities of methamphetamine from Dominguez and participated in financing additional narcotics purchases. Tania Diaz, 33, a Mexican national illegally present in the United States, is alleged to have assisted with financial transactions and communications related to drug trafficking activities.

The indictment also alleges members of the conspiracy discussed buying, selling, and exchanging firearms in connection with narcotics trafficking. In addition, Martinez and Flores are charged with conspiring to obstruct justice after allegedly arranging for the seizure and destruction of Dominguez's cellphone to prevent investigators from accessing communications related to the conspiracy. Martinez is separately charged with transmitting interstate threats after allegedly threatening to kill a courier and the courier's brother following the loss of a narcotics shipment in April 2025.

The indictment charges Dominguez with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of methamphetamine, and multiple counts of using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the most serious charges, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Martinez is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, multiple counts of using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and transmitting interstate threats. If convicted on the most serious drug trafficking charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Muñoz is charged with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Padilla is charged with conspiracy, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the most serious charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison.

Salas is charged with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the most serious charges, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison.

Alirez is charged with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the most serious charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison.

Jimenez is charged with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted on the most serious charges, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Flores is charged with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and related drug trafficking offenses. If convicted on the most serious charges, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Diaz is charged with conspiracy and using a communication facility to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the most serious charges, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

In separate but related cases, Joseph De La Torre, 35, is charged with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses. According to court documents, agents executing a search warrant at his residence on July 16, 2026, recovered methamphetamine, a substance that tested presumptively positive for cocaine and fentanyl, packaging materials commonly associated with narcotics distribution, and a loaded handgun.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today on behalf of the Homeland Security Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Devon Aragon Martinez, Renee Camacho and Judith Crews are prosecuting these cases.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region II CORE 7 is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations (OFO), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and Air and Marine (AMO), Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Joint Task Force North (JTF-N), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshal Service (USMS), Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS), El Paso Police Department (EPPD), New Mexico State Police (NMSP), West Texas / New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Sixth Judicial District, Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Districts of Western Texas and New Mexico.

An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.