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Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman is also Chairman of the NM Organized Crime Commission. The OCC partnered with other law enforcement to arrest a woman suspected of being the leader of a major human trafficking operation in Albuquerque. ... See MoreSee Less

Suspected human trafficker with New Mexico ties arrested
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A woman suspected of leading a human trafficking operation in Albuquerque has been arrested by Border Patrol.
WOMAN CONVICTED OF TRAFFICKING 2,000 FENTANYL PILLS
Today a jury convicted Juliana Graciano-Chavarria of Trafficking a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy.
In October 2023, Graciano-Chavarria tried to sell an undercover officer 2000 fentanyl pills in Bernalillo County. Graciano-Chavarria faces up to 12 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections.
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Governor’s Commission apprehends suspected human trafficker
Albuquerque arrest strikes blow against organized crime
SANTA FE – A multi-agency law enforcement team arrested a woman suspected of leading a major human trafficking operation in Albuquerque, marking a critical breakthrough in the fight against organized crime in New Mexico.
Agents with the Governor’s Organized Crime Commission partnered with New Mexico State Police and the U.S. Border Patrol to arrest Yajair Lizzet Lara, AKA Lara Mendez, on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Lara is considered one of the top five human traffickers in Albuquerque, according to law enforcement.
"This is a victory in our battle against the scourge of human trafficking," said Gov. Lujan Grisham. "The arrest of a top trafficker sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the exploitation of our most vulnerable. This is just the beginning— we will continue to work with law enforcement and advocates to see that justice is served.”
"The Organized Crime Commission is relentless and will continue to go after people who traffic human beings," said Sam Bregman, Bernalillo County District Attorney and Chairman of the Organized Crime Commission.
Investigators believe Lara is the leader of an organization that operated a stash house in Albuquerque collecting more than $500,000 by illegally smuggling migrants from Mexico into New Mexico and forcing them to pay her.
Border patrol agents arrested Lara in Oklahoma City Wednesday evening. She is currently being transported back to Albuquerque to face federal charges of human smuggling.
The arrest of Lara is part of Operation Disruption that began last fall along the New Mexico/Mexico border to target and arrest human traffickers.
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MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF SECOND SHOOTING VICTIM -- DETAINED
Today a judge ruled Alexander Segura Ortiz will remain in custody while he goes through the judicial process.
Segura Ortiz was recently charged with the fatal shooting of Nicole Maldonado. Maldonado was shot outside a food market in SE Albuquerque in January 2024. She later died from her injuries.
In February 2024, police also charged Segura Ortiz with the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Alianna Farfan.
Farfan was fatally shot at her apartment on Montgomery Blvd. in NE Albuquerque in January 2024, days before the murder of Maldonado.
Segura Ortiz is due back in court in the Farfan case on Friday.
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MAN WANTED ON CHARGES OF CRIMINAL SEXUAL PENETRATION OF A MINOR -- ARRESTED
Today Special Agents with the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office arrested Gerardo Castillo Juanes. Court records show he had a felony warrant for three counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor, three counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor and three counts of Bribery of a Witness. Agents located Castillo Juanes at a business where he worked and took him into custody without incident.
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JUDGES RULE 4 TEENS CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH ROBBERY THAT ENDED WITH THE DEATH OF 14-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT — WILL REMAIN IN CUSTODY --
Today multiple judges ruled 4 teens charged in connection with an attempted robbery of an Albuquerque couple are all too dangerous to be released from custody.
Last week, police say 8 teens tried to rob the couple as they sat in their jeep in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Police say at least two of the teens were armed with guns, including
14-year-old Alonzo Sanderson.
The adult passenger of the jeep was shot during the attempted robbery. Her husband was also armed and fired at Sanderson, killing him. Investigators say it was a justifiable homicide and that the adult male in the jeep was defending himself and his wife.
7 teens are currently in custody in this case. They range in age from 12 to 17 years old. On Friday, a judge ruled three of the teens will not be released. Then today, three different judges ruled the remaining teens must also remain in a juvenile facility. The District Attorney's Office has also asked that parents of all the teens charged in connection with this case attend all court hearings and participate in behavioral health treatment with the suspects.
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What happens in Santa Fe impacts your safety. Please take a few minutes to watch this very important discussion on juvenile crime and our proposed solutions. Also discussed is the issue of competency, criminal cases, and proposed changes. ... See MoreSee Less

Public Safety Perspectives: Criminal Justice Bills at 2025 Legislative Session - New Mexico In Focus
www.newmexicopbs.org
1.31.25 – Executive Producer Jeff Proctor asks Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman and longtime civil rights attorney Peter Cubra what they would like to see accomplished at the Roundhou...
Here is what our Metropolitan Court staff was up to in January - we started the year off strong!
#MetropolitanCourt #januaryhighlights #strongstart #teamwork #berncoda #legalcommunity
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Judge keeps teens behind bars after alleged botched armed robbery ... See MoreSee Less

Judge keeps teens behind bars after alleged botched armed robbery
www.koat.com
Concerned woman claims she tried to prevent the incident from happening.
TEENS ORDERED DETAINED FOLLOWING ATTEMPTED ROBBERY THAT LED TO SHOOTING DEATH OF 14-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT
Today a judge ruled three teens who were charged in connection with an attempted robbery, will remain in custody.
Albuquerque police say on January 29, a group of teens surrounded a couple as they were sitting in their jeep in the parking lot of an Albuquerque apartment complex.
One of the teens, a 15-year-old, fired shots into the jeep hitting and injuring the female passenger. The victim's husband returned fire, killing 14-year-old Alonzo Sanderson, who police say was holding two firearms and taking part in the attempted robbery. Sanderson died as a result of his injuries.
Police say the adult male who was in the jeep, was defending himself and his wife and will likely not face criminal charges.
A total of 7 juveniles were charged in connection with this case. They range in age from 12 to 17 years old. All the suspects are currently in custody. Hearings for the four other juveniles will take place Monday.
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For Immediate Release
January 13, 2025

After a thorough review of the evidence, the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office has submitted charges against Otero County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Diaz for First-Degree Murder.
On June 25, 2024, 17-year-old Elijah Hadley walked along U.S. Highway 70 near mile marker 240. Deputy Jacob Diaz was responding to a welfare check on Hadley when Deputy Diaz opened fire, killing Hadley .