CIBOLA COUNTY – U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Alexander Uballez has stepped down following a directive from President Donald Trump to remove all remaining U.S. Attorneys appointed during the Biden administration. His departure is part of a broader transition at the U.S. Department of Justice, affecting more than 20 U.S. Attorneys across the country.
Uballez, who had served as U.S. Attorney since 2022, was leading a federal investigation into a public corruption case involving the alleged dismissal of hundreds of DWI cases in New Mexico. His removal comes as that investigation remains ongoing.
Cibola County Law Enforcement Response
The impact of Uballez’s departure on law enforcement agencies in Cibola County appears to be minimal. Milan Police Chief Carl Ustupski told the Cibola Citizen that his department has had little interaction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) in recent years.
“This resignation should not have much effect on our department,” Ustupski said. “We have not had much interaction with the USAO that I recall since I've been here, little over four years now.”
The Cibola Citizen reached out to the Grants Police Department and the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office for comment but did not receive a response.
Ongoing Public Corruption Investigation
During his tenure, Uballez oversaw a federal investigation into a decadeslong scheme involving law enforcement officers allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for missing court dates and withholding evidence, resulting in the dismissal of DWI cases.
The FBI’s investigation, referred to in court filings as the “DWI Enterprise,” has led to multiple guilty pleas from former law enforcement officers and an attorney. The scope of the case has extended beyond Albuquerque to include officers from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department and the New Mexico State Police.
Uballez had stated publicly that the investigation was ongoing and encouraged those involved to come forward. Before his removal, he said, “Now is the time to come clean—if you were ever involved in this deceit, now is the time to come to the table.”
His departure raises questions about how the investigation will proceed under new leadership. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has stated that First Assistant U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin will serve as Acting U.S. Attorney until a successor is nominated and confirmed.
Changes at the U.S.
Department of Justice
The removal of U.S. Attorneys during a change in administration is a standard practice, though the recent transition has been conducted more swiftly than in previous years. The directive from President Trump resulted in some U.S. Attorneys losing access to their government systems before formal termination notices were sent.
President Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I have instructed the termination of ALL remaining ‘Biden Era’ U.S. Attorneys. We must ‘clean house’ IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence.”
The administration has indicated that immigration enforcement and border security will be among its top federal law enforcement priorities moving forward. It remains unclear how these priorities will affect federal prosecutions in New Mexico.
With Uballez’s departure, the leadership transition at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico is ongoing. The nomination and confirmation of a new U.S. Attorney will determine the future direction of federal prosecutions in the state, including violent crime initiatives, tribal law enforcement partnerships, and the ongoing public corruption probe.
As of press time, New Mexico has no US Attorney.