United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Tony Torrez, 31, of Albuquerque, N.M., has been charged with violating the federal narcotics trafficking and firearms laws in a criminal complaint filed by the DEA this afternoon.  Torrez, who is currently in state custody on unrelated charges, will be transferred to federal custody to answer to the charges in the criminal complaint. 

The criminal complaint charges Torrez with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and using and carrying firearms in relation to drug trafficking crimes.  Torrez allegedly committed the offenses on Oct. 21 and 22, 2015, in Bernalillo County, N.M.

According to the criminal complaint, the investigation resulting in the federal charges against Torrez began on Oct. 21, 2015, when the Albuquerque Police (APD) received a tip about a suspect who allegedly shot and killed a child during a road rage incident and his place of residence.  That day APD conducted surveillance at the residence where they observed a man, subsequently identified as Torrez, load items into a Toyota sedan.  APD officers later conducted a traffic stop on the Toyota when a woman drove away from the residence in the Toyota.  Shortly thereafter, APD officers conducted a traffic stop on a Lexus sedan that drove away from the residence and identified the driver as Torrez.  APD sealed and towed the two vehicles to the APD Crime Lab.

The criminal complaint alleges that later on Oct. 21, 2015, APD obtained and executed a state search warrant at the residence where they located shoe boxes containing U.S. currency, paraphernalia and other items consistent with the use of marijuana, marijuana, and a substance believed to be “wax,” a concentrated form of THC oil processed from the marijuana plant.  Thereafter, the DEA obtained a federal search for the residence and seized items and paraphernalia allegedly used for the distribution of marijuana and in the manufacture of THC “wax” and oil.  DEA agents also seized the U.S. currency as well as documents and items allegedly confirming that Torrez resided at the residence.

On Oct. 22, 2015, DEA agents were present when state search warrants were executed on the Lexus and Toyota sedans.  The Lexus allegedly contained a bag containing U.S. currency and a small amount of marijuana.  The Toyota allegedly contained bags containing bulk marijuana and marijuana packaged for distribution, two revolvers, two assault rifles, ammunition, a bullet proof vest, a small amount of suspected cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.  The criminal complaint alleges that the U.S. currency seized from the residence and the Toyota totaled approximately $64,000.00.           

If convicted on the marijuana trafficking charge, Torrez faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.  If convicted on the firearms charge, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison which must be served consecutive to the sentence imposed on the marijuana charge. Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations.  All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA, APD and the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case.