DEMING, N.M. (KRQE) – A 19-year-old man from Deming is facing federal charges after two separate incidents, one of which involved allegedly selling cocaine and a modified gun capable of automatic fire to an undercover officer, and the other in which he reportedly fled from a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint.
The first incident started on Feb. 11 when an undercover agent purchased cocaine from Gerald Anthony Lopez. During the transaction, Lopez allegedly displayed a gun equipped with an extended magazine and a switch that would make the gun capable of automatic fire.
Lopez offered to sell it for $1,300 with the switch or $1,000 without. He also claimed he could supply additional weapons, conversion devices, and narcotics, according to the Department of Justice
On Feb. 20, Lopez met with the agent again and sold cocaine and the gun equipped with a switch for $1,300.
He was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a machine gun, possession of an unregistered machine gun, and possession of a firearm that was not identified by a serial number.
He will remain in custody until sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Lopez faces up to 25 years in prison.
In addition to the firearms charges, Lopez is also facing a second federal case stemming from a separate incident on May 6. According to the Department of Justice, Lopez arrived at the Interstate 10 Border Patrol checkpoint and initially consented to a canine inspection after agents allegedly smelled cannabis in the vehicle.
However, after briefly stopping at the secondary inspection area, Lopez fled the checkpoint.
Border Patrol agents from Deming stopped Lopez on Highway 549 near Ventura Road. In that case, he was charged with high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint. If convicted, Lopez faces up to five years in prison.
