Notorious North Valley Motel Shut Down Following Code Violations, Criminal Activity

ALBUQUERQUE - The City of Albuquerque has officially closed the Court John Motel at 2700 4th St. NW following a coordinated inspection on Wednesday, April 30, which revealed widespread code violations and serious threats to community safety. The decision comes in response to persistent complaints from residents and escalating criminal activity linked to the property.

Once a budget lodging site, the Court John Motel had devolved into a hotspot for drug trafficking, violence, and prostitution, creating disturbances that affected nearby residents and businesses. The closure has been met with relief and gratitude from the community.

“We’ve been hoping and praying that one day this day would come,” said Mary and Tito’s Owner Antoinette Knight, when commenting about the closure.

"This is about standing up for the safety and wellbeing of our neighborhoods," said Mayor Tim Keller. "We will continue taking action against properties that turn a blind eye or fuel criminal activity."

“Many local business owners and community members have raised serious concerns about dangerous activity in this area—deterring business and threatening public safety. I am grateful to the City of Albuquerque for working with us to respond to these concerns, to provide resources to those in need, ensure the safety of our neighbors, and help our local businesses thrive,” said Speaker Javier Martinez, House District 11.

The inspection found unsafe environments lacking basic health and safety standards. Violations included:

• Numerous plumbing and sanitation failures like non-functional or missing toilets, sinks, and showers, leaking plumbing fixtures, and unsanitary drainage conditions.
• Electrical hazards including overloaded circuits, recessed and exposed wiring, and damaged outlets in several units.
• Fire code violations, including the lack of proper fire detection and hazardous waste storage.
• Unsanitary conditions with pest infestations and water leaks.
• Operating without a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
• Unpermitted construction and serious structural damage.

"This property exemplified the type of unsafe conditions we simply cannot allow in Albuquerque," said Planning Director Alan Varela. "Our inspection uncovered significant unpermitted construction and code violations that put lives at risk."

Fire Marshal Jason Garcia expressed disappointment that one year after the property graduated from the Abandoned and Dilapidated Abatement Property Team (ADAPT) Program, it had so quickly fallen back to the same problems.

Law enforcement activity surrounding the property has been a growing burden. In the past year alone, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) responded to 940 calls for service within a 2 block radius of the motel. Incidents at the Court John Motel itself included:

• 16 calls involving assault or battery
• 26 reports of auto theft or stolen vehicles
• 2 shooting incidents
• 3 rape cases
• 6 narcotics-related offenses
• 10 ShotSpotter activations in the immediate area, with 35 rounds detected

The motel also drew law enforcement attention as the site where Leticia Ramirez, a known narcotics trafficker, relocated her operation after being evicted from the Motel 6 near Coors and Iliff. A recent search warrant at the Court John Motel led to the seizure of over 1,000 fentanyl pills, further confirming the depth of criminal activity centered there.

“Court John had become nothing but trouble,” said APD Chief of Staff Mike Hernandez. “We’ve had officers dealing with everything from stolen cars to shootings and a known trafficker moving her drug operation here after being kicked out of another motel; it’s a clear threat to public safety.”

The tenants of the Court John motel included an elderly veteran and residents who were being charged extremely high rates of $1,400 per month, and in some cases both cash and a voucher, to stay in dangerous living conditions. The units were being improperly used for long-term stays, but there is a clear need for more housing. The City encourages the owners to convert the units into apartments. 

During the operation on Wednesday, Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) was on site to ensure no one living at the motel was left without support. ACS connected with 15 individuals staying on site, helping everyone who wanted it into long-term housing solutions or into temporary accommodations.

“When living conditions aren’t safe, we’re here to help people get back on their feet,” said Community Safety Director Jodie Esquibel. “Our goal is to ensure everyone has a safe place to go and the support they need to move forward.”

The City will continue to hold negligent property owners accountable and prioritize the safety of neighborhoods impacted by criminal activity.