ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Two New Mexico inmates are accused of trying to get drugs into a New Mexico prison, and it’s part of a much bigger investigation.
According to a federal indictment, on the morning of Aug. 10, staff at Cibola County Correctional Center found a package near the recreational yard. Inside it, they found 26 grams of heroin, 62 grams of tobacco, THC wax, suboxone, and drug paraphernalia. There were also two cell phones. The federal documents said one cell phone could sell for as much as $2,000 inside a prison.
Through the federal investigation, law enforcement learned the package was intended for cellmates Lupe Vargas and Edward Vallez. Those names might sound familiar.
News 13 has reported on Vargas before. In February, he led law enforcement on a violent chase in Albuquerque and even shot at Bernalillo County deputies before crashing into a hotel. He then walked out of the hotel property in different clothing, acting like nothing happened before being caught.
News 13 has also previously reported on Vallez. Police said he led them on a high-speed chase with 230,000 fentanyl pills in the car.
According to the indictment, federal investigators said Vargas and Vallez, who are believed to be involved with gangs, asked Vargas’ wife, Monalisa Vargas, and another person, Michael Garcia, to use a fishing rod to throw over the drug-filled package into the prison. Monalisa Vargas, Garcia, and a fifth person outside of prison, Theresa Atencio, are also facing federal charges for the attempt to bring contraband into the correctional facility.
This is also not the first time Vargas is accused of breaking the law while behind bars. The new federal indictment says while he was in jail at MDC, Vargas asked his wife to get him a gun so he could escape during a medical visit. He detailed his escape plan in a letter that was intercepted by law enforcement.
This case is part of a bigger, federal investigation we’re expecting to learn more about. News 13 has learned federal officials are holding a press conference on Friday about the investigation into Cibola County inmates working with gang members on the outside to bring contraband into the facility.