ALBUQUERQUE - Yesterday afternoon, a federal jury sitting in Las Cruces, N.M., found John Wayne Hargrove, 57, of Pearce, Ariz., guilty on marijuana trafficking charges after a two-day trial. The guilty verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA's El Paso Division, and Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Self of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector.

Hargrove, Janelle Richter, 57, also of Pearce, Ariz., Edgar Antonio Silvas-Hinojos, 28, a Mexican national illegally in the United States, and three other Mexican nationals, were arrested on Feb. 8, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging them with conspiracy and possession of 135.11 kilograms (297.25 pounds) of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Hargrove, Richter and Silvas-Hinojos were subsequently indicted on June 14, 2016, and charged with participating in a marijuana trafficking conspiracy and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. According to the indictment, the defendants committed the crimes charged on Feb. 8, 2016, in Hidalgo County, N.M.

The evidence at trial established that U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Hargrove and Richter at 10:45 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2016, as the two were trying to hide inside of HargroveG