One in group accused of operating drug ring pleads guilty

One of four people accused of operating an illegal drug ring in Curry County pleaded guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges, according to a press release from New Mexico’s U.S. District Attorney Damon Martinez.

Christopher Jason Kidd, 38, will be sentenced to 78 months in federal prison under terms of a plea agreement, the release said.

According to the release:

Kidd was indicted in February by a federal grand jury along with Tina Tafoya, 33, and John Jesse Perez Jr., 45, both of Clovis, and Jeanette Driever, 37 of Grady. All were accused of trafficking methamphetamine.

The three others named in the indictment have pleaded not guilty and remain in federal custody awaiting a Jan. 8 trial in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque.

Kidd’s plea agreement states he and Tafoya supplied methamphetamine to others, including Driever and Perez, who resold the illegal drug in smaller quantities to users. Kidd said that on Nov. 9, 2013, he and Tafoya supplied a pound of methamphetamine to Driever and Perez. Kidd said he and Tafoya also possessed another half-pound of methamphetamine at their home.

Kidd remains in federal custody pending sentencing on a date yet to be determined.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Region V Drug Task Force and New Mexico State Police with assistance from the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s office.