US Attorney Ryan Ellison On the Ground and Seeking Convictions for Drug Trafficking; 94,000 Fentanyl Pills Trafficked Leading to 20 Year Conviction

Alamogordo raised, US Attorney Ryan Ellison is ensuring strong prosecutions and is on the ground combating drug traffickers.

Nathen Richard Garley, recently convicted of a deadly gang-related shooting that claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy, has now been sentenced to 20 years in prison for trafficking over 94,000 fentanyl pills in a case that underscores the deadly impact of drug and violent crime in New Mexico.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on September 13, 2023, Garley, 22, was stopped by law enforcement as a passenger in a vehicle near mile marker 85 in Cibola County, New Mexico, during a return trip from Phoenix, Arizona. A search of the vehicle, prompted by the odor of marijuana and Garley’s admission to recent use, led officers to discover a glass jar of marijuana on Garley and a duffel bag in the trunk containing approximately 10.97 kilograms of fentanyl pills-estimated to be over 94,000 pills in total.

Garley admitted to possessing the duffel bag and acknowledged his addiction to prescription pills. Further investigation revealed evidence on Garley’s cell phone indicating his involvement in drug distribution. Testing confirmed the pills contained fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for a significant rise in overdose deaths nationwide.

This federal drug arrest came just one week after Garley was involved in a tragic shooting in Albuquerque. On September 6, 2023, Garley, along with accomplices, opened fire on a vehicle they mistakenly believed was driven by a rival gang member. The attack killed 11-year-old Froylan Villegas and left his cousin paralyzed as the family was leaving an Isotopes baseball game. Authorities later linked Garley to the shooting, and he was convicted of first-degree murder and multiple other felonies related to the incident.

Following the shooting, Garley fled to Arizona, abandoning the vehicle used in the crime and evading authorities by staying at various Airbnbs and hotels. During this period, he searched for news articles about the murder, demonstrating awareness of the tragedy, yet continued his criminal activities by arranging to transport the massive fentanyl load back to New Mexico.

Garley is now sentenced to 20 years in prison per a release from Ryan Ellisons office posted to social media. 

Upon his release from prison, Garley will be subject to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison of Alamogordo and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Trembley.

In other related news concerning Alamogordo raised U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison.  U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison joined FBI Albuquerque SWAT this week in Albuquerque’s South Valley to execute search warrants targeting drug traffickers and violent offenders demonstrating he is on the ground seeing first hand that drug traffickers are brought to justice.

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