United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that John Seibel was sentenced on Aug. 2 to 17 years and six months in prison. Seibel, 26, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on March 15 to two counts of distribution of 50 grams and more of a substance and mixture containing methamphetamine, four counts of distribution of 40 grams and more of fentanyl, two counts of distribution of 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

In his plea, Seibel admitted to leading a drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to his plea agreement and other court records, on several occasions between April 1, 2021, and June 15, 2021, Seibel sold drugs to an undercover agent from the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Albuquerque District Office. Seibel sold fentanyl pills manufactured by others, but also acquired a pill press and other components to fabricate his own fentanyl pills for distribution. On May 12, 2021, Seibel sold the undercover agent drugs, including fentanyl pills that Seibel and others manufactured with the pill press. In total, between April 1, 2021, and May 27, 2021, Seibel sold to the undercover agent 2,437.8 grams of methamphetamine and 546.4 grams of fentanyl.

Seibel was arrested following a sale of 1,368.6 grams of fentanyl and 1,333 grams of methamphetamine on June 15, 2021. That same day, law enforcement executed search warrants on Seibel’s residence and other locations associated with his drug trafficking activity. In Seibel’s home and vehicle, agents recovered a total of $84,139.19, which Seibel admitted were proceeds of his unlawful drug trafficking. At a residence in Tijeras, New Mexico, agents recovered the pill press, a powder granulator and other materials Seibel used to manufacture fentanyl pills. Agents also recovered 833.7 grams of powdered fentanyl, 400 grams of blue fentanyl pills, 48.3 grams of yellow fentanyl pills and 7,762 grams of methamphetamine. At a stash house in Albuquerque, agents located 634 grams of methamphetamine and 3,869.4 grams of fentanyl pills.

“While drug overdose/poisoning deaths continue to rise in our nation, Mr. Seibel made these dangerous illegal drugs readily available to New Mexicans for his profit,” said Greg Millard, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's El Paso Division. “DEA and its partners will continue to hold accountable those responsible for poisoning our communities, as we step up our campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of illicit drug use and medication misuse.”

“John Seibel endangered the lives of countless people in the callous pursuit of his own enrichment,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “The illegal and unregulated manufacture and trafficking of counterfeit pills has contributed to the toll of fentanyl overdoses that have ravaged the District of New Mexico and communities across the nation. We will work diligently to halt these manufacturing operations and prosecute those who would profit from their flagrant disregard for the lives of our people.”

Upon his release from prison, Seibel will be subject to five years of supervised release.

Among the agencies that participated in the investigation were the DEA Albuquerque District Office, DEA El Paso Division, DEA El Paso Division SRT, DEA Las Cruces District Office, DEA St. Louis Division, DEA South Central Laboratory, DEA Aviation, FBI Albuquerque Field Office, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department, Pueblo of Laguna Police Department, Pueblo of Pojoaque Police Department, Valencia County Sheriff’s Office, Rio Rancho Police Department, Torrance County Sheriff’s Office, Belen Police Department and Albuquerque Fire & Rescue.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico prosecuted this case.

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