David Rolando Munoz, 52, of Anthony, N.M., a Gadsden Independent Schools employee who was arrested by federal agents Friday on a drug conspiracy charge, was arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court in El Paso, the El Paso Times reported.

Bond was set at $20,000 for Munoz, a special education diagnostician for Gadsden schools, who is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilos of cocaine, the Times reported.

If convicted, Munoz faces 20 years in prison, according to an earlier report. 

Munoz, who arrested after a three-year investigation by an FBI-DEA strike force, is accused of being the broker of a $1.8 million cocaine deal, Special Agent Andrea Simmons of the El Paso FBI office told the Times.

Munoz "was negotiating for two deliveries of 50 kilos (of cocaine) each ... He was the broker negotiating on both sides, getting it to deliver on what price," said Simmons, who told the Times that Munoz ended up negotiating with undercover agents.

The deal was worth an estimated $1.8 million because cocaine is selling for $18,000 a kilo in El Paso, Simmons told the Times.

The price of cocaine has increased nationally, selling for more than $30,000 a kilo in New York, because of a shortage in supply, Simmons said.

The Gadsden school district had no comment on Munoz's arrest, the Times reported. 

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