A Carlsbad resident, Jason Cunningham, 46, has been charged with federal drug trafficking offenses after law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at his home on September 3, 2025. According to court documents, the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force found approximately 1,090 grams of methamphetamine and 56 grams of cocaine at Cunningham’s residence.
Cunningham faces charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He will remain in custody until his trial date is set. If convicted, he could receive a sentence ranging from a minimum of 10 years to life in prison.
“Traffickers see only profit, but what they leave behind are broken families and endangered communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “These charges reflect our determination to dismantle the networks that exploit addiction and threaten public safety. That work is only possible because of the extraordinary cooperation between federal, state, tribal and local partners who stand together against those who traffic misery.”
“Methamphetamine is one of the most destructive narcotics on the street. This type of crime is an assault on public health and safety, and individuals such as Cunningham profit off human misery.” said Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI is united with our law enforcement partners to use every resource at our disposal to cut off their supply chains and hold them accountable.”
“The Eddy County Sheriff’s Office and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force value our relationships with our federal partners,” said Eddy County Undersheriff Mark Cage. “The Cunningham case investigation and very successful prosecution are a testament to the teamwork it takes to ensure the safety and security of our citizens in Eddy County. Our message is clear: drug trafficking and lawlessness will not be tolerated!”
At the time he was arrested, Cunningham was serving supervised release following an earlier conviction for drug-related offenses in 2017 that resulted in an 87-month prison sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Jason T. Stevens announced these charges jointly.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations El Paso along with the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force—a group made up of officers from several agencies including the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Artesia Police Department, Bureau of Land Management—and forms part of New Mexico’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program (HIDTA), which supports coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies through federal grants.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee Camacho is prosecuting this case.
A criminal complaint represents only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
