Las Cruces man pleads guilty to federal meth trafficking charges

A Las Cruces man pleaded guilty to methamphetamine trafficking charges after reaching a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Jason Harrison, 23, and his co-defendant Ashley Valenzuela, 23, also of Las Cruces, were arrested and charged with conspiracy and distribution of methamphetamine on July 1, 2016 and July 6, 2015.

Wednesday, Harrison pled guilty to the indictment, admitting that on July 1, 2016 and July 6, 2016, he worked with Valenzuela to distribute methamphetamine. The alleged sale was made to undercover federal agents, officials said.

Valenzuela pled guilty to the same charges on Jan. 11, 2017.

At sentencing, Harrison and Valenzuela each face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Their mugshots are not available.