Man faces drug trafficking, firearm charges

• Gilberto Vicente is accused of using a social media account to contact a female about smoking narcotics.
• Detectives found items including digital scales, a firearm, multiple small bags and containers of meth in the motel room.
• Vicente's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Farmington Magistrate Court.

FARMINGTON — A man is facing charges that include accusations of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a handgun after he allegedly offered to sell narcotics to a social media account used by Farmington detectives.

Gilberto Vicente, 25, is facing three charges, including a second-degree felony count of trafficking controlled substances and a fourth-degree felony count of possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon, according to the criminal complaint.

He is accused of being in possession of several items, including two plastic bags and a small metal container with a clear, crystalline substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine, a revolver, a digital scale with a "fresh" amount of crystalized substance on top and a glass pipe with burnt, black residue, according to the probable cause statement.

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Vicente did not have legal representation as of Thursday afternoon, according to court records.

Detectives for the Farmington Police Department received a message on Nov. 2 responding to a social media account that represented a fictitious 21-year-old female. The department set up the account for law enforcement purposes, according to court documents.

The message was from an account with the username Rico Suave who allegedly asked the 21-year-old female if she wanted to meet up and smoke narcotics. Vicente later admitted to detectives that he was using the account.

Detectives responded to Rico Suave, asking to purchase some meth. Vicente is accused of stating he had some to sell, adding he was ready to split it. A meeting was set up by detectives with Vicente on Nov. 6 at the Motel 6 in Farmington, per the probable cause statement.

The detectives met with Vicente and a woman named Jazel Wabbington in one of the motel rooms and identified themselves.

Vicente told the detectives they would find multiple meth pipes in the room along with some "smoke," a slang term for narcotics.

A glass pipe with burnt, black residue was found inside the tank of the toilet in the motel room.

Vicente was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear on an aggravated battery conviction, according to court records.

Wabbington was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and an active arrest warrant, according to court documents.

Vicente was being held without bond at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center as of Friday afternoon.

His preliminary hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Farmington Magistrate Court.

Joshua Kellogg covers crime, courts and social issues for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627 or via email at jkellogg@daily-times.com.