Repeat offender arrested for drug trafficking in Rio Rancho

RIO RANCHO — An Albuquerque man who has been arrested more than 20 times in the state of New Mexico was arrested again near Mariposa for drug trafficking charges.

Talele Mika, 45, was arrested May 11 for allegedly trafficking meth and fentanyl at the intersection of Unser and Progress boulevards. A criminal complaint stated that when Mika was pulled over for no license plate, officers found approximately 54 grams of fentanyl in his possession. The vehicle was further searched, and officers found separate wrapped bundles of drugs weighing 142 grams, 499 grams, 991 grams and 319 grams. Police also found large amounts of cash, ammunition and a weapon.

Mika’s name appears in dozens of court cases in San Juan County, Santa Fe County and Bernalillo County, according to court records. The records show all cases have been marked as dismissed or the file has been destroyed.

He was also arrested in Rio Rancho earlier this year in connection to a shootingat the Encore Hotel in Farmington on Jan. 13. Police found bullet holes in one of the hotel rooms, and witnesses reported seeing a man with a rifle near a vehicle outside the room before shots were fired, according to court records.

That case has since been closed. The last entry in the court system was a retraction of a motion to have Mika detained pre-trial. An audio log for that case stated that Mika was still in Sandoval County and the case could not continue if he wasn’t present for the hearing. A hearing at a later date shows record that Mika attended via Zoom call.

Now, Mika has been released with conditions on personal recognizance for the trafficking case, according the Sandoval County court records. However, an inmate log shows Mika is still detained at the Sandoval County Detention Center.

He is also charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking, firearm possession and possession of stolen motor vehicles.

Mika could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted.