Warrant issued for man trying to pin drug crimes on other wanted man

Travis Morgan, 29, of Albuquerque, has a warrant for his arrest and is accused of possessing and distributing a controlled substance on Oct. 4.

The charges came after officers came into contact Sept. 27 with Alego Rivera, who had an active felony warrant for his arrest on an auto theft case in July.

Police planned to take Rivera into custody when he was seen next to a disabled ice cream truck at a property on 38th Street. Special Services Unit officers approached the vehicle as it seemed that Rivera had entered the van.

They then heard voices in the van and ordered them to exit the vehicle. Morgan, who had been in contact with police for previous crimes, answered the door and was detained until everyone exited the vehicle.

Rivera exited the vehicle and placed in custody. A woman exited as well and was also detained. Rivera denied having any property in the van and said he was not living in it and he had just fallen asleep in it.

Police found various drug paraphernalia inside the ice cream truck as well as two suspicious backpacks. Morgan claimed one of the backpacks, and the woman said she had a suitcase in the vehicle. Both said they didn’t know who the other backpack belonged to.

Rivera was arrested and removed from the property.

Morgan, who was not under arrest at the time, asked to leave, but police searched his backpack before he left. They found a pipe and some residue inside, and he and the woman then said the other backpack likely belonged to Rivera. He then left the scene.

Police searched the remaining backpack on Oct. 4 after obtaining a warrant and found a container with 116 blue pills believed to be fentanyl and a receipt from Denny’s that had “Travis” written on it. A tablet was also found with Morgan’s credentials in a cash app. A warrant was then issued for Morgan’s arrest.

If Morgan is found and convicted he will face more than three years in prison.