A New Mexico man was sentenced in federal court on Friday to life in prison for his role as the leader of a transnational criminal organization with ties to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel.
Alex 'Smiley' Barraza, 36, of Albuquerque, was the leader of the Barraza Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Texas.
In a press release, authorities say he was responsible for the "importation of methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States for distribution in Albuquerque."
Barraza's organization smuggled around 720 kilograms of narcotics into the U.S., and approximately $1.7 million into Mexico, per the federal investigation.
The Albuquerque man was arrested on April 9, 2021. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Conspiracy to import 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
- Murder from the use of firearms in relation to a drug trafficking crime
- Use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime
- 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.
The investigation was a multi-agency effort led by Homeland Security Investigations and the New Mexico State Police.
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