Inmates, residents charged in alleged smuggling ring in Lordsburg

Ten people have been accused of operating a drug smuggling ring within the Hidalgo County Detention Center in Lordsburg. District Attorney Norman Wheeler announced the charges Wednesday and said the investigation was ongoing.

Among the defendants is the son of Hidalgo County Manager Tisha Green, although Green herself is not implicated and an arrest affidavit indicates she was instrumental in bringing the alleged criminal ring to the attention of investigators.

"Hidalgo County takes these allegations seriously," Green told the Journal. "Our priority is maintaining the safety, security, and integrity of our detention facility, and we will continue working closely with our partners in law enforcement and the courts."

The enterprise appeared to have been active since at least December 2024, according to Wheeler’s office and court records. A review of inmate phone calls, which are public records, provided evidence pointing to a conspiracy involving several inmates, a kitchen worker at the center and friends and family members outside the institution, serving as distributors, runners and facilitators, Wheeler said.

The investigation involved the state’s High Intensive Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, New Mexico State Police and the Silver City Police Department.

“This kind of activity, and the danger it brings, will not be tolerated,” Wheeler stated in a news release. “Our rural communities deserve better. These individuals are accused of exploiting the prison system for personal gain, preying on incarcerated individuals, and profiting from criminal activity within a system meant to uphold justice.”

The office said additional charges could follow as the investigation continues.

According to court documents, Green notified police in April that an inmate had admitted to smuggling methamphetamine into the facility after several inmates tested positive for the drug. She requested that the District Attorney's office investigate.

Aaron McDaniel, 27, initially confessed to smuggling meth into the facility when he returned from a four-hour furlough but later recanted and claimed a kitchen worker at the facility was distributing contraband via meal trays, according to a police affidavit. McDaniel’s reversal prompted Wheeler to review the case.

Green said the kitchen worker accused, Felicity Castaneda, was not a county employee but worked for a private service provider under contract.

Subsequent interviews and inspection of phone calls allegedly revealed a network facilitating the delivery of tobacco, methamphetamine and Suboxone, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, into the jail.

Inmate Anthony Alba, 40, allegedly also gave instructions regarding the sales and movement of firearms he owned outside the facility, despite being barred from owning guns due to felony convictions. Alba has been charged on nine counts, including racketeering, trafficking and distributing controlled substances, bringing contraband into a jail, conspiracy and firearms charges.

Fellow inmates Felix Romero, 31; Steve Sierra, 53; Javier Rivera Castillo, 39; and McDaniel face four to eight counts apiece on charges of racketeering, trafficking or distributing narcotics, bringing contraband into a jail and conspiracy.

Several Lordsburg residents also face multiple charges in connection with the alleged criminal enterprise.

Felicity Castaneda, 45, accused of being the kitchen worker involved in the ring through her relationship with Alba, was charged with nine counts on charges of racketeering, trafficking and distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy and being an accessory to receiving, transporting or possession of a firearm connected to Alba’s charges. She was released from custody under maximum pretrial supervision, Wheeler’s office stated, following a Tuesday hearing.

Damon Reyes, 31, was identified in charging documents as Green’s son and an associate of Alba and other defendants. A warrant was issued for Reyes’ arrest on Aug. 28 and he did not appear to be in custody as of Wednesday.

Silvia Alba, 68, identified in charging documents as Anthony Alba’s mother, and Jennifer Romero, 31, face pretrial detention hearings next week. Jaime Flores, 21, was released on personal recognizance.

Additionally, Castaneda’s daughter, Analisa Castaneda, 23, was charged with being an accessory to Alba’s firearm transactions. She was released on personal recognizance.

Green said the county was cooperating fully in the ongoing investigation. She said "steps have been taken to strengthen monitoring and oversight" at the detention center and that housing of inmates charged or involved in the investigation were being made in coordination with law enforcement.

This story has been updated with comment from Hidalgo County.