U.S. Citizen Living in Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – Elizabeth Gallardo, 37, a U.S. citizen living in Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for her methamphetamine trafficking conviction.

Gallardo and co-defendant Yuriria Anahid Ramirez-Moreno, 33, a Mexican national, were arrested on May 13, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging them with conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to the criminal complaint, an officer of the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) arrested the women after finding them in possession of methamphetamine; Gallardo possessed 100.6 grams of methamphetamine and Ramirez-Moreno possessed 108.5 grams of methamphetamine.

Gallardo and Ramirez-Moreno were subsequently indicted on July 20, 2016, and charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on May 12, 2016, in Doña Ana County, N.M.

On Aug. 29, 2016, Gallardo and Ramirez-Moreno both entered guilty pleas to felony informations charging them with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In entering her guilty plea, Gallardo admitted that on April 29, 2016, she delivered 54.7 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover agent. Ramirez-Moreno admitted that on May 5, 2016, she delivered 56 grams of methamphetamine to the undercover agent. Both women admitted that they intended to deliver the 209 grams of methamphetamine seized from them on May 12, 2016, to the same undercover agent.

At sentencing, Ramirez-Moreno faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison followed by not less than three years of supervised release. Ramirez-Moreno remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Saltman of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.