On December 31, 2020, Esteban Renteria III was speeding through Cibola County on Interstate 40. Renteria had two active warrants out for his arrest, and he was hailing a copious number of illegal narcotics. Travelling at speeds reaching 102 miles per hour, Renteria caught the attention of an unnamed New Mexico State Police Officer that initiated a traffic stop. On May 31, Renteria pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to a plea agreement, and other court records, Renteria was traveling on I-40 in Cibola County on Dec. 31, travelling at speeds reaching at least 102 miles per hour. An NMSP officer initiated a traffic stop and identified Renteria as having two active arrests warrants out for him. The unnamed officer placed Renteria under arrest and began an inventory of Renteria’s car.
During the course of the inventory, the officer discovered a backpack that had $12,012 inside, and a loaded handgun, along with narcotics. When officers discover illegal narcotics or paraphernalia when doing an inventory, they must stop the work and obtain a search warrant. After obtaining a warrant for narcotics and other paraphernalia, investigators found 184 grams of fentanyl.
The Cibola County Sheriff’s Office, NMSP, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations worked the evidence in this case and determined that Renteria was going to traffic these drugs for money.
At a plea conference on July 26, 2021, Renteria admitted that he wanted to sell the fentanyl for money, and that the $12,012 he had was obtained by selling drugs. He further admitted to having the firearm to protect his drug business.
On May 31, Renteria was sentenced to 10 years in prison. When he is released, he must serve five years of supervised release.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark Pfizenmayer prosecuted this case. NMSP, CCSO, and the HSI handled this case. HSI is a part of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and is the primary investigative arm of the US Department of Homeland Security.