By Roger Lanse

Flavio Loya Moncada, 53, of Deming, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday, Feb. 10, to methamphetamine trafficking charges.

According to a Department of Justice press release, Moncada was arrested on March 6, 2015 in Dona Ana County after he attempted to sell about a half pound of meth to an undercover law enforcement agent.

Moncada was subsequently charged in a four-count indictment with distributing a total of approximately one pound of pure meth on four occasions in 2015 to an undercover agent.

The crimes occurred in Dona Ana County.

The indictment, the release said, also required Moncada to forfeit $10,600 to the United States.

Moncada remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing where he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison, the release stated.