Two Indian-origin men have pleaded guilty to narcotics and gun charges stemming from a drug trafficking operation based in a US motel.
Kamal Bhula, 44, of Albuquerque, and Pragneshkumar ‘Pete’ Patel, 36, of Montgomery, Alabama are two of three people charged with keeping a drug-involved premise in Albuquerque motel.
In a statement, the Attorney’s Office of New Mexico said that both Bhula and Patel had pleaded guilty to one count each of keeping a drug-involved premise.
Jonathan Craft, 36, of Albuquerque, the third accused, pled guilty to conspiracy and being a prohibited person in possession of a handgun or ammunition.
According to the July 17 press statement, Bhula and Craft will stay in detention until their sentence, which has yet to be announced.
On June 20, 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Bhula and Craft. Patel was charged with a felony on November 5, 2019.
According to court records, Patel owned the Best Choice Inn at 7640 Central Avenue SE and was the on-site manager from September 2017 to March 2018, when Bhula leased the facility from Patel and took over as the on-site manager.
Craft resided and worked at Best Choice Inn, claiming to be the boss while Bhula was abroad.
Craft sold drugs from his room, allowed others to do the same, and permitted people to take drugs on the premises. The craft was also in illegal possession of a firearm.
Bhula and Patel permitted drug trafficking at the motel and directly monitored and benefitted from those who used banned substances there.
“Bhula, Craft, and Patel each face up to 20 years in jail at sentencing”, the release added.
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