Carlsbad man pleads guilty to federal drug offenses
CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) – Jesus Alonso Cerezo-Espidio, a 51-year-old from Carlsbad, has pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine and five grams and more of methamphetamine, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says.
Cerezo-Espidio is the eighth individual indicted after a 2023 law enforcement operation in Carlsbad. Other individuals charged after the operation have also pled guilty to federal crimes.
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In 2023, Cerezo-Espidio took possession of an ice chest containing drugs in Mexico, the DOJ says. He was supposed to take the chest to Carlsbad, but left it in a parked car in El Paso, Texas.
Overnight, law enforcement seized the drugs. Lab tests revealed there were 1,974 net grams of cocaine and 501.4 net grams of methamphetamine in the chest, the DOJ says.
Cerezo-Espidio is still awaiting sentencing. He will be held in custody as he waits and faces between five and 40 years in prison, the DOJ says.
