District of New Mexico
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former detention center officer sentenced to eight months in halfway house for sexual abuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Paul Wollweber, 41, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Acoma, was sentenced in federal court on Feb. 25 to eight months at a halfway house for abusive sexual contact. Wollweber pleaded guilty on Oct. 28, 2019.
According to the plea agreement, on Aug. 29, 2015, while working as a detention center officer at the Acoma Detention Facility, Wollweber sexual abused of a female inmate. Wollweber touched the victim’s chest and continued to place his hands around her lower back and under her clothes. Wollweber also forced the victim to engage in kissing. The victim pushed Wollweber away to stop him from kissing and grabbing her. The Acoma Detention Facility is located on the Pueblo of Acoma, Indian Country.
In addition to his sentence, Wollweber will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southern Pueblos District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Novaline D. Wilson and Raquel Ruiz Velez prosecuted this case.
Mescalero man pleads guilty to domestic assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Drew Jerome Beck, 28, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, pleaded guilty on March 2 in federal court to domestic assault by a habitual offender. Beck will remain in custody pending sentencing.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 2, 2020, Beck assaulted his intimate partner, who is also an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, in their home in Otero County on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. The victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe, called 911. When an officer arrived at the home, Beck fled through the back door.
Beck previously was convicted of battery against a household member in Ruisdoso, New Mexico, in 2011 and was convicted of domestic violence in Mescalero Tribal court in 2017. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
Navajo man charged with sexually abusing a childRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Manison Largo, 41, of Church Rock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, made an appearance on March 1 in federal court where he is charged with sexually abusing a child younger than 16. Pending trial, Largo will be released to a halfway house when space is available.
According to a criminal complaint, on multiple occasions beginning in approximately 2017, Largo allegedly sexually abused the victim, who is also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. During the course of the alleged abuse, which occurred at Largo’s residence in Church Rock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, the victim had not attained the age of 12. The victim was able to borrow a phone and called 911 to report the abuse on or about Feb. 2.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Largo faces a minimum of 30 years and up to life in prison.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
Member of the Isleta Pueblo pleads guilty to federal assault chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Anthony Lucero, 35, an enrolled member of the Isleta Pueblo, pleaded guilty in federal court on Feb. 10 to domestic assault by a habitual offender.
According to the plea agreement, on Nov. 13, 2019, Lucero assaulted his girlfriend. Lucero admitted to punching the victim in the face causing substantial bodily injury. The assault occurred on the Isleta Pueblo.
Lucero is currently in custody pending sentencing. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Isleta Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquel Ruiz-Velez, Joseph Spindle and Alexander Flores prosecuted the case.
Navajo man sentenced to two years in prison for sexually abusing a child in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Wilson Davis, 25, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on Feb. 23 in federal court to two years in prison for sexually abusing a child in Indian Country. Upon completion of his prison sentence, Davis will be subject to five years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
Davis pleaded guilty to the offense on Oct. 22, 2020. In his plea agreement, Davis admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the victim, who he knew was a minor. At the time of the abuse, the victim was younger than 16 years old. Davis committed the offense in McKinley County on the Navajo Nation.
The Gallup office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.
Alto man sentenced to over 12 years in prison for kidnappingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Joshua Neil Bowen, 28, of Alto, New Mexico, was sentenced on Feb. 16 in federal court to 12 years and seven months in prison for kidnapping. Upon his release, Bowen will be subject to three years of supervised release.
According to Bowen’s plea agreement and other public court documents, he and four co-defendants abducted the victim from a travel center in Mescalero, New Mexico, on April 4, 2019. Bowen and Roberto Cervantes, 25, of Chaparral, New Mexico, each had a firearm at the time. Cervantes hit the victim in the face several times. They also tied and bound the victim in an attempted robbery.
Bowen and his co-defendants took the victim to Chaparral where the co-defendants tried to withdraw money from the victim’s bank account with a debit card. From there, some of the co-defendants traveled to El Paso, Texas, where Bowen took the victim to a bank. Bowen ordered the victim to pretend to be Bowen’s grandfather and change the PIN for the victim’s ATM card. After changing the PIN, Bowen transported the victim back to New Mexico. Some of the co-defendants obtained money from the victim’s bank account.
Bowen and his co-defendants checked into a hotel in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on April 5, 2019, where they prevented the victim from leaving. Bowen and Brittany Priddy, 30, of Ruidoso, New Mexico, left the hotel on April 7, 2019, and traveled to a residence. On April 8, 2019, the victim managed to call his son and tell him where he was. An officer from the Las Cruces Police Department responded and rescued the victim.
Priddy pleaded guilty to kidnapping on April 28. Derek Welborn, 30, of Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to kidnapping on April 30. Cervantes and Alison Comstock, 28, of Carrizozo, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to kidnapping on May 19. All of the remaining defendants are in custody awaiting sentencing.
The FBI investigated this case with the New Mexico State Police, Ruidoso Downs Police Department, Las Cruces Police Department and Dona Ana Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Matilda McCarthy Villalobos are prosecuting the case.
Silver City man sentenced to 24 years in prison for production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ruben Castillo, 50, of Silver City, New Mexico, was sentenced on Feb. 16 in federal court to 24 years in prison for production of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexual conduct. Castillo pleaded guilty on March 24, 2020.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, Castillo used Instagram to find and contact minor girls. Castillo admitted that on July 21, 2019, he met a victim who he knew was 15 years old and pursuaded her to engage in sexual conduct with him. Castillo further admitted to using his cellphone to photograph the act.
Upon his release from prison, Castillo will be subject to supervised release for five years.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Silver City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Ry Ellison prosecuted the case.
Santa Fe man sentenced to six years in prison for possession of stolen firearmsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Derek Nicholas Padilla, 30, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was sentenced on Feb. 17 in federal court to five years and 11 months in prison for possession of stolen firearms.
Padilla pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2020. In his plea agreement, Padilla admitted to stealing the firearms a utility truck from a storage complex belonging to the Bureau of Indian Affairs located on Nambe Pueblo. The property belonged to the United States government.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros prosecuted the case.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to four years in federal prison for firearm possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Robert Alderete, 32, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque on Feb. 18 to three years and eight months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to public court documents, Alderete was driving recklessly in Albuquerque on Dec. 4, 2019, when a deputy stopped him. During the search of Alderete’s vehicle, the deputy discovered a semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine and anxiety pills.
Upon completion of his prison sentence, Alderete will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal prosecuted the case.
Zuni Pueblo man sentenced to ten years in prison for injuring two children in drunk driving crashRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Stanton Sanchez, 33, of Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, was sentenced on Feb. 17 in federal court to 10 years in prison for assault of two minors resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country.
Sanchez pleaded guilty on Jan. 8, 2020. In his plea agreement, Sanchez admitted to driving recklessly while intoxicated and hitting two children who were walking in a residential area on the Zuni Pueblo in McKinley County on July 22, 2018. Sanchez’s blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit. As a result of the crash, both children suffered serious injuries. At the time of the incident, the victims were 10 and 11 years old.
The Zuni Tribal Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros prosecuted the case.
Mexican national faces federal charges in violent Albuquerque carjackingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal judge today ordered that Gael Antonio Rodriguez, 18, of Mexico, will remain detained pending trial for carjacking.
According to a criminal complaint, on Jan. 16, Rodriguez allegedly approached an elderly victim in northwest Albuquerque outside her apartment complex and asked her for a cigarette. The victim responded that she had no cigarettes and Rodriguez then allegedly demanded her purse and the keys for her vehicle. When the victim resisted, Rodriguez allegedly slashed her hand with a knife, causing her to drop the keys. Rodriguez allegedly grabbed the keys and fled in the victim’s vehicle.
An Albuquerque Police Officer was dispatched to the scene and relayed a description of the vehicle and Rodriguez to the Rio Rancho and Corrales police departments. Police were able to locate the vehicle in Corrales. After a pursuit on foot, police subdued and arrested Rodriguez.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Rodriguez faces up to 25 years in prison.
The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the Corrales Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
Shiprock man sentenced to two years in prison for assaulting a federal officerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Derrick Begay, 33, of Shiprock, New Mexico, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on Feb. 10 in federal court to two years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for assault upon a federal officer involving physical contact.
According to Begay’s plea agreement and other court records, on Jan. 22, 2020, a federal special agent with the Bureau of Indian Affairs made contact with Begay on the side of a road in Shiprock on the Navajo Nation. The agent lawfully requested that Begay exit his vehicle, but Begay did not comply. At one point Begay lunged out of his vehicle and hit the agent in the face. Begay got back into his vehicle and fled the scene with law enforcement in pursuit. Begay reached speeds in excess of 100 mph. The weather was poor and there were school buses on the roadway so law enforcement called off the pursuit. Begay was arrested on May 1, 2020.
The Farmington office of the FBI investigated this case along with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Cowen prosecuted the case.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to four years in federal prison for firearm possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Daniel Mitchem, 47, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque on Feb. 11 to four years and seven months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to his plea agreement, on Feb. 8, 2020, in Albuquerque Mitchem approached an undercover law enforcement officer, who he believed to be a regular citizen, and displayed his firearm, which was secured in his waistband, while claiming to be a member of the Sheriff’s Department. After the undercover officer identified himself as law enforcement, Mitchem ran to his vehicle and fled the scene. Law enforcement arrested Mitchem shortly after as he attempted to dispose of the firearm.
Upon completion of his prison sentence, Mitchem will be subject to three-years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquel Ruiz-Velez prosecuted the case
Man from Mescalero pleads guilty to federal threat charge in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Thaddeus Ponce, 58, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, pleaded guilty in federal court Feb. 5 to influencing federal officials by threat.
In the plea agreement, Ponce admitted to calling the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) emergency dispatch multiple times from Aug. 10, 2019, to Oct. 7, 2019, in Otero County, New Mexico. Ponce threatened to kill federal dispatch operators and their families during numerous recorded calls. The BIA dispatch center is located on the Mescalero Reservation.
Ponce is currently in custody pending sentencing. He faces up to 10 years in pri
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
Man from Albuquerque pleads guilty to federal armed robbery of medical products and drug chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Joseph Matney, 40, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Feb. 4 to armed robbery of a pharmacy, theft of medical products and possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone and Alprazolam.
According to his plea agreement, Matney entered and robbed an Albuquerque pharmacy on Jan. 31, 2018. Matney, and a juvenile accomplice, held the employees at gunpoint and demanded opioid painkillers, anxiety pills and money from behind the counter. They fled with more than 2,500 pills before law enforcement arrived. On Feb. 12, 2018, law enforcement in Denver, Colorado, arrested Matney after a searching his vehicle and finding 1,600 of the stolen prescription pills and a firearm.
Matney is currently in custody pending sentencing. He faces seven to 30 years in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Denver Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter J. Eicker is prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque man charged with firearms possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Shawn Connell, 41, of Albuquerque, was charged in federal court on Feb. 8 with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Connell has been released from custody pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on the morning of Sept. 26, 2020, a Bernalillo County Deputy Sheriff allegedly observed Connell driving erratically and made a traffic stop. At first, Connell allegedly refused to comply with the Deputy’s commands, but eventually got out of his vehicle and was detained. A check revealed that Connell’s driver license had been surrendered.
Among the items found during an inventory of Connell’s vehicle was a handgun. As a previously convicted felon, Connell cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. If convicted, Connell faces up to 10 years in prison.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito is prosecuting the case.
Man from Torreon sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for involuntary manslaughter and assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Allen Lewis, 26, of Torreon, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque on Feb. 4 to 12 years and five months in prison for involuntary manslaughter, assault resulting in serious bodily injury of a minor, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country.
According to his plea agreement, Lewis admitted to driving his vehicle on April 17, 2018, while under the influence of alcohol and causing a vehicle crash. After purchasing alcohol from a gas station in Cuba, New Mexico, Lewis alcohol level was at .147, which is over the legal limit. While driving on Route 9 on the Navajo Nation, Lewis fell asleep behind the wheel, drove on the wrong side of the road and crashed into a family of five. The crash caused the deaths of three victims and serious bodily injuries to two other victims who were hospitalized following the incident. Four of the victims were enrolled members of the Navajo Nation.
Upon his release from prison, Lewis will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police and the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall prosecuted the case.
Previously convicted felon from Albuquerque charged with firearm possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Antonio Barraza, 31, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court on Jan. 22 on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Barraza will remain detained pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on Aug. 10, 2020, a Bernalillo County Deputy Sheriff made a law enforcement stop on Barraza’s vehicle relating to an active arrest warrant. After the deputy identified and arrested Barraza, an inventory of items in his vehicle allegedly revealed a pistol underneath the driver’s seat.
Barraza has six previous felony convictions. As a previously convicted felon, Barraza cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. If convicted, Barraza faces up to 10 years in prison.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Tierney is prosecuting the case.
Navajo man pleads guilty to sexually abusing a childRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Larry Nathaniel, 64, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on Feb. 2 to a charge of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country.
A grand jury previously returned an indictment against Nathaniel on Sept. 25, 2019. According to the indictment and other court records, Nathaniel committed the offense in San Juan County on the Navajo Nation on or about Feb. 24, 2019. Nathaniel held down the victim by the arm and touched her genitalia. At the time of the assault, the victim was ten years old.
Nathaniel is currently in custody pending sentencing. He faces five to 10 years in prison.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque woman charged with drug trafficking and assaulting a federal officerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sarah Patricia Loya, 22, of Albuquerque, made an initial appearance in federal court on Feb. 2 where she was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and assaulting a federal officer. Loya will remain detained pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 4.
According to a criminal complaint, on January 29, Loya allegedly agreed to meet a person, who was in fact an undercover law enforcement agent, for Loya to sell 25 fentanyl pills. After the transaction was complete and law enforcement officers attempted to detain Loya’s vehicle, Loya allegedly attempted to avoid arrest by accelerating her vehicle into a concrete barrier. When that attempt failed, an agent wearing a clearly marked police insignia approached Loya, identified himself as police and commanded Loya to stop the vehicle. Loya allegedly ignored those commands and attempted to accelerate through law enforcement vehicles.
Loya allegedly collided with a vehicle with a task force officer inside. At that point agents were able to detain Loya’s vehicle. Though Loya allegedly resisted, agents were able to subdue her and she was arrested.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Loya faces up to twenty years in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Eicker is prosecuting the case.
Man from Lordsburg pleads guilty to federal child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Gilbert Gallegos, 44, of Lordsburg, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 29 to production and possession of child pornography.
According to information based on court records and statements made in open court, on April 8, 2020, Gallegos’ phone was seized and searched following a search warrant. Gallegos admitted to producing and possessing child pornographic videos on his cellphone from July 2, 2019, depicting a minor victim who is partially nude, and another video of child pornography involving two minor victims.
Gallegos is currently in custody pending sentencing. He faces 15 to 30 years in prison.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Lordsburg Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case.
Las Cruces woman pleads guilty to wire fraud and fraudulent tax returnsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sandra Roberto, 42, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 29 to wire fraud and fraudulent tax returns stemming from an embezzlement scheme.
According to court records, from 2011 to 2018, Roberto used her position in the accounting department for Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) to embezzle over a million dollars. As MVT’s primary contact with two third-party payment processors, Roberto deposited checks ranging from $400 to $975 into her personal bank account. Upon discovering her embezzlement scheme, MVT terminated her employment in 2018.
In addition to wire fraud, Roberto also falsified her income tax returns by failing to report any of the illegally embezzled funds to the IRS. For example, in 2017, Roberto embezzled $217,260, but only reported $31,932 as taxable income. The Form 1040 U.S. Individual Tax Return includes a declaration that the information is reported under the penalties of perjury.
Roberto faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ry Ellison and Richard C. Williams are prosecuting the case.
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California man sentenced to three years in prison for bank robberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Randy Matthew Peraza, 48, of Needles, California, was sentenced on Jan. 27 in federal court to three years in prison for bank robbery.
Peraza pleaded guilty on July 9, 2020. In his plea agreement, Peraza admitted to walking into a bank in Roswell, New Mexico, on March 13, 2020, announcing, “This is a robbery,” and demanding money from a bank teller. As the teller gathered cash, Peraza applied hand sanitizer to his hands and used a lighter to light his hands on fire. Peraza then took money from the teller, left the bank, walked across the street and sat in the grass where officers responding to the bank alarm found and arrested him.
Upon his release from prison, Peraza will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Roswell Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel M. Feuerhammer prosecuted the case.
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Shiprock man charged with assault with a dangerous weaponRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Quincee Zohnnie, 24, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared in federal court on Jan. 28 on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Zohnnie was ordered detained pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on or about June 14, 2020, Zohnnie allegedly drove by and fired gunshots into an occupied house, intending to cause harm to John Doe. There was a child in the home at the time of the shooting. The alleged incident occurred in San Juan County on the Navajo Nation.
If convicted, Zohnnie faces a minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in prison. A criminal complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison C. Jaros is prosecuting the case.
Man from La Mesa charged with derailing train in southern New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Luis Angel Rodriguez, 27, of La Mesa, New Mexico, made his initial appearance in federal court today where he was charged with knowingly derailing a train. Rodriguez will remain detained pending a preliminary hearing.
According to a criminal complaint, in the early morning hours of Dec. 2, 2020, Rodriguez allegedly placed materials on a track causing a BNSF Railway train to derail in Vado, New Mexico. The derailment injured the conductor and engineer and caused damage to the railway and surrounding property.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Rodriguez faces up to life in prison.
The FBI investigated this case in conjunction with BNSF Police and the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Saltman is prosecuting the case.
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Albuquerque man facing federal firearms and drug trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jose Carlos Cisneros-Legarda, 22 of Albuquerque, made his initial appearance in federal court on Jan. 28 where he was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possessing a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Cisneros-Legarda will remain detained pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 1.
Cisneros-Legarda is a state probationer whose probation term runs through September 2022 for 2017 convictions for armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. According to a criminal complaint, between late January and early April 2020, Cisneros-Legarda allegedly posted multiple photos of himself on social media with large amounts of money. He also allegedly utilized Facebook Live to stream live videos of himself driving in multiple vehicles, not all of which were equipped with an interlock device as required by his probation terms.
On April 8, 2020, Cisneros-Legarda allegedly was live streaming video on Facebook Live in which he was observed in possession of a firearm. On April 9, 2020, a New Mexico Corrections Department Probation-Parole Division Officer along with members of the FBI Violent Crime Task Force and the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center Security Threat Intelligence Unit went to Cisneros-Legarda’s residence to conduct a search of his home pursuant to his probation conditions. A search of the premises uncovered three loaded handguns and approximately 26.7 grams of heroin.
As a convicted felon, Cisneros-Legarda cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Cisneros-Legarda faces a minimum of five years and up to twenty years in prison.
The FBI, the New Mexico Corrections Department, and the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center Security Threat Intelligence Unit investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L Roybal is prosecuting the case.
Navajo man from Shiprock sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for second degree murderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Zachariah Stanley Joe, 29, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on Jan. 14 in federal court to 15 years in prison.
On Oct. 31, 2019, Joe pleaded guilty to second degree murder for killing a Navajo man in Shiprock on the Navajo Indian Reservation. In his plea agreement, Joe admitted that on Jan. 3, 2019, he killed the victim in callous and wanton disregard for human life. According to the plea, while drinking alcohol Joe got into a fight with the victim at a residence in Shiprock. After locking the victim and another man out of the residence, Joe armed himself with a kitchen knife and went outside where he stabbed the unarmed victim approximately ten times in his chest, side and neck. The victim died shortly afterward.
Joe has been in federal custody since his arrest. Upon his release from prison, Joe will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Farmington office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Cowen is prosecuting the case.
Two Zuni men Sentenced for RobberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Brandon Jim, 35, of Zuni, New Mexico, was sentenced on Jan. 26 in federal court in Albuquerque to 11 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for robbery and aiding and abetting in Indian Country. Co-defendant Timothy Boone, 27, also of Zuni, was sentenced on July 16, 2020, in Albuquerque to 10 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for the same crime. Both men are members of the Zuni Pueblo.
Jim pleaded guilty to this offense on March 4, 2020, while Boone pleaded guilty on July 18, 2019. In their plea agreements, they admitted to using a gun and a knife to rob a minor, identified in court records as John Doe. By threat of violence, Jim and Boone took Doe’s belongings, including two cell phones, a fishing rod, a tackle box, a sweatshirt and .22 caliber ammunition. The crime was committed near Eustace Lake on the Zuni Pueblo.
The Gallup office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa Dimas prosecuted the case.
Man from To’hajiilee pleads guilty and is sentenced on federal escape chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Michael Kelewood, 35, of To’hajiilee, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 13 to a charge of escape from the custody of the Attorney General.
According to court records, on Aug. 9, 2019, Kelewood, who was confined at a halfway house in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, for a previous felony conviction, walked away from the halfway house without permission and did not return. The United States Marshal’s Service located Kelewood a week later and arrested him. Kelewood was charged on Dec. 3, 2020.
Upon the guilty plea, the court sentenced Kelewood to eight months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
The United States Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle prosecuted the case.
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Albuquerque man faces federal firearms charges under Operation LegendRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Eduardo Enrique Zazueta, 27, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court Jan. 13, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Zazueta was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 17, 2020. According to the indictment, on Sept. 20, 2020, Zazueta allegedly possessed a 9mm pistol and ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Zazueta cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Zazueta faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case as part of Operation Legend, a coordinated federal and local law enforcement initiative to fight gun and dangerous crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
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Man from Arizona sentenced to three years in federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Travis Clitso, 25, of Pinon, Arizona, was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 22 to three years and one month in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country.
Clitso previously plead guilty on Oct. 8, 2020. According to his plea agreement, Clitso, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted to hitchhiking near Cortez, Colorado, on Feb. 6, 2019. A driver picked up Clitso and agreed to give him a ride. They later stopped at a gas station in Shiprock, New Mexico, where Clitso pulled out a knife and stabbed the driver in the throat. Clitso fled the scene, but police officers found and arrested him later the same day. The driver suffered a large cut to his throat. Emergency medical personnel flew him to Albuquerque for emergency treatment. He spent several days in the hospital for his injuries.
The Farmington office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Aliberti prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque man facing federal carjacking and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Santiago JonDaniel “Hush” Rooks, 21, of Albuquerque, made his initial appearance in federal court on Jan. 25 where he was charged with carjacking, brandishing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rooks will remain detained pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 27.
According to a criminal complaint, on Jan. 4, Rooks allegedly approached a victim in a driveway in southwest Albuquerque, pulled a gun from his waistband and demanded the keys for the victim’s truck. The victim relinquished his keys and Rooks allegedly fled in the vehicle.
A Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy located the truck on I-25 and briefly gave chase before ceasing pursuit for safety after the vehicle left the interstate. Following the direction the vehicle had taken, the deputy found the truck abandoned with the doors left open. A loaded pistol was found inside the truck.
Rooks has prior felony convictions for receiving and/or transferring a stolen vehicle and aggravated assault. As a convicted felon, Rooks cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Rooks faces a minimum of seven years and up to life in prison.
The FBI and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Outler is prosecuting the case.
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Mescalero man charged with sexual abuse of a childRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – James Darius Caje, 27, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, was charged in federal court on Jan. 21 with sexual abuse of a minor. Caje will remain detained pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on the night of Feb. 24 or early morning Feb. 25, 2020, Caje allegedly entered the bedroom of the victim, who was less than 16-years old, and sexually assaulted her. The following day, the victim reported the assault to a school counsellor, who then reported it to law enforcement. The assault occurred on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Caje faces up to 15 years in prison.
The FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
Previously convicted sex offender sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for child pornography and international kidnappingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Clarence Michael Ransom, 53, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was sentenced on Jan. 20 to 35 years in federal prison for attempted production of child pornography, international parental kidnapping and failure to report international travel as a sex offender.
Ransom pleaded guilty on June 23, 2020. In the plea agreement, Ransom admitted having at least ten sexually explicit conversations over an online social networking and dating platform in May 2019. Ransom believed he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl, but the other party to the conversations was an undercover law enforcement officer. Ransom admitted to using extremely sexual and coercive language to try to obtain sexually explicit photographs of the person he thought was a child. Ransom was in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, when he engaged in these conversations.
Ransom also admitted kidnapping his two children from their mother, with whom he shared custody, and fleeing with them to Mexico on Oct. 8, 2019. Mexican law enforcement later arrested Ransom and transported him back to the United States for prosecution.
Ransom is required to register as sex offender based on a 1991 conviction for engaging in an unlawful sexual act with a child under 12. Ransom violated federal requirements to update his sex offender registration and to notify the proper authorities when he left the United States.
Upon his release from prison, Ransom will be subject to supervised release for life.
The FBI and United States Marshal Service investigated this case with the assistance of the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S Attorneys Matilda McCarthy Villalobos and Mark A. Saltman prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque man charged with sending threatening messages to local familyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Stephen Yochim, 48, of Albuquerque, made his initial appearance on Jan. 19 in federal court where he was charged with transmitting threatening interstate communications. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 26.
According to a criminal complaint, Yochim allegedly sent a series of messages from multiple Google email (gmail) accounts to an Albuquerque couple. In highly graphic language, the messages, received between Jan. 11 and Jan. 15, threatened physical violence against one of the recipients and expressed morbid joy at the prospect of cancer afflicting the other recipient. Included in the profane terms directed toward the family was the repeated use of an ethnic slur.
“Those who engage in online threats and harassment cross a line and they should know that they will be subject to prosecution,” said Fred Federici, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico.
"The type of behavior the defendant is accused of committing is unacceptable," said James Langenberg, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque FBI Division. "The FBI will aggressively investigate those who maliciously threaten others and we will work closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office to hold these offenders accountable."
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Yochim faces up to five years in prison.
The FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A Hurtado is prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque man sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for attempted carjacking, robbery, and firearm possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Joe Pacheco-Romero, 33, of Albuquerque was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 13 to 17 years and six months in prison for attempted carjacking, interference with commerce by threats or violence, and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to his plea agreement, Romero admitted to robbing an Albuquerque business on Oct. 17, 2018. Soon after, Romero broke into a nearby residence and attempted to steal the homeowner’s vehicle at gunpoint. The victim was able to escape and Romero fled the residence. Romero then attempted to carjack another vehicle, firing several shots and hitting the vehicle multiple times. The two victims inside the vehicle were able to put the car in reverse and escape.
Immediately afterward, Romero entered a restaurant and attempted to rob a victim of his vehicle. When that attempt failed, Romero tried to rob a second victim of her vehicle. Suspecting a police officer was outside the restaurant, Romero directed a victim to call 911 and demand a getaway vehicle. Romero was soon apprehended by the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) SWAT team. Romero was wounded by gunfire during the arrest.
Upon his release from prison, Pacheco-Romero will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Albuquerque Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque man sentenced to seven years in federal prison for carjackingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Scott Gibbs, 21, of Albuquerque was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 12 to seven years in prison for three counts of carjacking and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to the plea agreement, Gibbs committed three armed car jackings in Albuquerque. On Oct. 17, 2018, Gibbs and an accomplice approached two victims as they were gathering their belongings from their vehicle and carjacked them at gunpoint. About 45 minutes later, Gibbs and two accomplices approached another victim and stole the victim’s vehicle at gun point, punching the victim and stealing his keys, wallet, and phone in the process. An hour later, Gibbs and his two accomplices carjacked a third victim at gunpoint as he was getting out of his vehicle. Law enforcement apprehended Gibbs and his two accomplices soon after and located the three firearms used in the car jackings.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Trembley prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque man charged in armed robbery of letter carriers, bank fraudRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Cisco Casaus-Alires, 20, of Albuquerque, made his initial appearance today in federal court where he was charged with robbery of mail, mail theft, bank fraud, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, stemming from three armed robberies of USPS letter carriers in Albuquerque. Casaus-Alires will remain detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 21.
According to a criminal complaint, on Nov. 7, 2020, Casaus-Alires allegedly robbed a letter carrier at gunpoint in southeast Albuquerque, demanding the letter carrier’s cell phone, USPS keys and mail. On Dec. 26, 2020, in southwest Albuquerque, Casaus-Alires allegedly robbed another letter carrier at gunpoint. Casaus-Alires allegedly demanded the letter carrier’s wallet, phone and USPS keys, and then demanded that the letter carrier load parcels into Casaus-Alires’ vehicle.
On Dec. 28, 2020, in south Albuquerque, Casaus-Alires allegedly robbed a third letter carrier at gunpoint, demanding the letter carrier’s wallet, phone and USPS keys. As Casaus-Alires allegedly took mail and parcels from the USPS vehicle, he asked the letter carrier where “the good stuff” is delivered, then fled the area. The following day, Casaus-Alires allegedly used the letter carrier’s credit card, which had been in his wallet when it was stolen, to make two purchases.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Casaus-Alires faces a minimum of 21 years for his use of a firearm to commit the three robberies and up to 30 years in prison for the other crimes.
The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
Department of Justice provides list of charges relating to Capitol BreachRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice has created a webpage listing each defendant charged in connection with the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The list includes the name of the defendant, case number, charges, a link to any DOJ press releases relating to the case, and the status of the case:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/investigations-regarding-violence-capitol
Every case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Following arrests, or surrender, defendants must appear before district court magistrate/judge where the arrest takes place, in accordance with the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
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Bernalillo County man pleads guilty to possession of firearms, destructive devicesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – David Richard Chavez, 57, of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court today to possession of an unregistered destructive device and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on April 26, 2020, Chavez barricaded himself inside his home when officers arrived in response to a domestic dispute between Chavez and his wife. Chavez threatened to burn down the couple’s home and later attempted to do so using two Molotov cocktails. At the time, Chavez also possessed a stolen .380 caliber pistol and 36 rounds of ammunition.
Chavez has five prior felony convictions from New Mexico and Montana, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, theft and criminal endangerment. As a previously convicted felon, Chavez cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Chavez will remain in custody pending sentencing. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Chavez faces up to four years and nine months in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
Statement on the passing of Chief Deputy District Attorney Chuck BarthRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Fred Federici issued the following statement:
The United States Attorney’s Office wishes to extend its deepest sympathies and condolences to the Barth family and our colleagues at the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office for the passing of Chief Deputy District Attorney Chuck Barth. Chuck devoted his professional life to law enforcement, working as a Secret Service agent, prosecutor at the DA’s office, and as a long-time colleague and friend as a career prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In his latest role as Chief Deputy District Attorney, Chuck was a valued partner to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in helping to coordinate our offices’ joint efforts to fight crime in Albuquerque.
Chuck’s passing is a tremendous loss to the Albuquerque community, and to many of us within the office who worked alongside him for years, a tremendous personal loss. Like his colleagues at the D.A.’s Office, we will miss Chuck and his sense of humor.
Fort Stanton man pleads guilty to possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Christopher Bryant, 47, of Fort Stanton, New Mexico, pleaded guilty on Jan. 12 to possession of child pornography. Bryant will remain in custody pending sentencing.
In the plea agreement, Bryant admitted that on or about Aug. 13, 2020, he used a social media application on his cell phone to obtain images of child pornography and then emailed the images to himself. Bryant also admitted that he knew the images depicted children engaging in sexually explicit conduct and that the images were of real children, rather than computer generated images or adult actors portraying children. “At the time of the offense, Bryant was a detective for the Ruidoso Police Department.”
By the terms of the plea agreement, Bryant will serve three years in federal prison. Bryant must also register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by the FBI with the support of the Ruidoso Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matilda McCarthy Villalobos and Dustin Segovia are prosecuting the case.
Airline passenger pleads guilty to in-flight assaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alton James Johnson, 43, of Yuba City, California, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 12 to assaulting two flight attendants while he was a passenger.
According to the plea agreement, on Dec. 23, 2019, during a flight from San Diego, CA, to Albuquerque, Johnson repeatedly touched a female flight attendant up and down her legs. After she told him to stop, Johnson then grabbed the flight attendant inappropriately. When a second flight attendant stepped in and asked Johnson not to touch any flight attendants, Johnson forcefully grabbed the second flight attendant by the arm. Johnson admitting to being under the influence of alcohol but conceded that he was in control of his actions when he committed the assaults.
Johnson will remain in custody pending sentencing. He faces six months in prison.
The FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
Mescalero man pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Indian countryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Mundo Charles Barela, 19, of Mescalero, New Mexico, pleaded guilty on Jan. 6 in federal court to voluntary manslaughter in Indian country.
In the plea agreement, Barela admitted to stabbing a man on the evening of July 20, 2020, during a quarrel and “in the heat of passion.” Barela stabbed the victim several times in the victim’s throat, chest and abdomen. The victim was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The attack took place on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation and the victim was an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
Barela will remain in custody pending sentencing. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
Man from Albuquerque pleads guilty to federal firearm chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Edward Romero, 31, of Albuquerque pleaded guilty in federal court on Dec. 9 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to his plea agreement, Romero arrived at the U Pull and Pay, a self-serve used auto parts business in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, on March 9. Romero and a companion engaged in an argument with the victim in the parking lot and followed the victim into the store. When Romero’s companion and the victim began to fight, Romero pulled out his firearm and fired at the victim. Romero and his companion then fled in Romero’s vehicle, and Romero was arrested soon afterward by law enforcement.
As a convicted felon, Romero cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. By the terms of the plea agreement, Romero faces up to 10 years in prison and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case this case as part of the Department of Justice’s Operation Legend, a coordinated federal and local law enforcement initiative to fight gun and dangerous crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Mote is prosecuting the case.
Jemez man charged with assaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Tyler Sando, 30, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Jemez, made his initial appearance today in federal court where he was charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sando will remain detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 7.
According to a criminal complaint, on Aug. 11, Sando allegedly got out of his vehicle, approached the victim and proceeded to strike the victim about the head and face without provocation. Sando allegedly returned to his car and left. The assault occurred on the Jemez Pueblo Reservation in Sandoval County, New Mexico.
Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to Sandoval Regional Medical Center, and the victim later was transferred to the University of New Mexico Hospital due to the severity of the injuries.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Sando faces up to 10 years in prison.
The FBI and the Jemez Pueblo Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson is prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque woman charged with armed robbery and mail theftRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Cecilia Ann Gillespie, 31, of Albuquerque, was charged in federal court on Dec. 30 with robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, mail theft and conspiracy to defraud the United States. A detention hearing is scheduled for Jan. 4.
On Oct. 13, a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier was robbed at gunpoint at an apartment complex in Albuquerque. The suspects took mail keys and several pieces of U.S. Mail. On Nov. 23, a USPS letter carrier was robbed at gunpoint of two trays of mail in Albuquerque. The suspects allegedly fled both times in a white Dodge Avenger. A criminal complaint alleges that the vehicle used in the crimes belongs to Gillespie and that Gillespie was the driver in both armed robberies.
According to the complaint, on Dec. 11, U.S. Postal Inspectors located the white Dodge Avenger and allegedly observed Gillespie getting into the car. On Dec. 11, Postal Inspectors, Homeland Security Investigations and the New Mexico State Police conducted a search of the residence where the vehicle had been located. Inspectors found stolen mail, including stolen checks, both opened and unopened. Gillespie was one of the occupants on the lease.
If convicted, Gillespie faces a minimum of seven and up to 25 years in prison. A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque man charged with attempted bank robberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Daniel Hansen, 21, of Albuquerque, was charged in federal court today with attempted bank robbery. A detention hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5.
According to a criminal complaint, on Dec. 16, Hansen allegedly entered a bank and was informed by a teller that transactions must be conducted at the drive-through window. Hansen then allegedly approached the drive-through window on foot, told a teller that he would like to make a withdrawal, and was provided a withdrawal slip and a pen. Hansen allegedly returned the withdrawal slip with a demand for money. Understanding the bank was being robbed, the tellers backed away from the teller line and activated the security alarm. Hansen then allegedly returned to the vehicle in which he had arrived and fled.
Hansen was later identified through his involvement in an unrelated incident.
If convicted, Hansen faces up to 20 years in prison. A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson announces resignationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – United States Attorney John C. Anderson, 45, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, has announced his resignation effective 11:59 pm on Jan. 2, 2021. After his resignation, he plans to join a private law firm in the Santa Fe area.
Mr. Anderson was nominated to serve as U.S. Attorney in November of 2017 and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Feb. 15, 2018.
“John Anderson has performed his duties as U.S. Attorney in a manner that has brought great credit upon the Department and himself,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “John’s leadership has been defined by his commitment to the rule of law and his unwavering dedication to the Department’s principal mission of securing the safety and welfare of the people of the United States. In the District of New Mexico, this has included promoting state and local partnerships, while spearheading the cause of building long-term, sustained efforts to take violent criminals off the streets of Albuquerque. John has been resolute in his commitment to fighting for justice on behalf of victims of crime throughout New Mexico, including in our Indian communities. I am deeply appreciative of the many different facets of John’s service.”
Prior to his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Anderson had been with the law firm of Holland & Hart in Santa Fe since 2013, where his legal practice focused on complex litigation and government investigations. Mr. Anderson previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of New Mexico from 2008 to 2013, primarily focusing on the investigation and prosecution of white-collar crime. Before serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Mr. Anderson was a litigation associate at the New York City law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP from 2004 to 2008, where his practice focused on antitrust, securities and general commercial litigation.
Mr. Anderson received his A.B. from Bowdoin College and his J.D. cum laude from Fordham University School of Law in New York City. Mr. Anderson clerked for Judge Paul J. Kelly, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Santa Fe, N.M., from 2003 to 2004.
Mr. Anderson has provided the following statement:
Serving as United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico has been the highest honor of my career. I am deeply grateful to the President, to Attorneys General Sessions and Barr, and to Senators Udall and Heinrich, for their support and confidence in entrusting me with the solemn responsibility of serving as United States Attorney. I am also exceptionally thankful for my family, without whose constant love and support I would never have been able fulfill the obligations of this office. Perhaps most of all, I am indebted to the career men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico who work tirelessly to promote public safety and ensure that justice is done. It has been a privilege to call them my colleagues.
I am undeniably proud of what this Office has accomplished over the last three years. Through increasing federal involvement and the deployment of federal resources, we have made significant strides toward reducing violent and dangerous crime in Albuquerque. In doing so we have forged ever stronger partnerships between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. I am hopeful that these partnerships will endure and flourish long after I am gone.
We have redoubled our commitment to the cause of justice in New Mexico’s tribal communities, where violence remains an unacceptably common reality of life for too many Native Americans. I am grateful to have been able to increase the number of prosecutors dedicated to pursuing justice for victims of crimes in Indian Country and continually amazed at the selflessness and dedication of our victim-witness advocates. I am similarly proud that New Mexico has taken a leading role in addressing the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, including through the addition of a contractor dedicated to developing and implementing national and local protocols to address this issue.
At the same time, we have significantly increased our efforts to combat transnational organized crime, especially on our southern border with Mexico. The flow of illegal drugs into the United States, and the illegal export of firearms from the United States into Mexico, make for a deadly combination on both sides of the border, and the callous business of cross-border human trafficking similarly endangers innocent lives. I am honored to have been a part of a sustained effort to combat these pernicious and illegal endeavors.
In each these areas, our efforts would be for naught without the selfless dedication of our federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners. To all of them, I offer my deepest admiration and gratitude.
Within our Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has acted with diligence and commitment to ensure the integrity of federal programs and the just resolution of civil claims.
Finally, during my tenure I have been privileged to hire 34 Assistant United States Attorneys. More than any other achievement or accomplishment, they will inform my legacy. I have the utmost confidence in every one of them. From my new vantage as a private citizen, and with a quiet pride, I will watch their careers progress, cheer their successes, and celebrate their achievements.
Much work, of course, will remain for my successors. Violent crime continues to represent a stubborn impediment to New Mexico’s ability to realize its full potential, and the increasing flow of mass-produced methamphetamine across our southern border promises only to exacerbate that challenge. At the same time, too many in our Native American communities live in fear of violence, and without adequate law enforcement resources.
Nonetheless, I leave the U.S. Attorney’s Office optimistic for its future and confident that it will continue to pursue justice with vigor, while remaining faithful to its enduring principles and those of the Department of Justice.
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Las Cruces man charged for making online threatsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Dustin John Charles, 37, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was charged in federal court today after an arrest for cyberstalking.
According to a criminal complaint, on April 29, Charles allegedly posted a photo of a Las Cruces police officer on Facebook and stated that he was having dreams of killing the officer. Charles allegedly sent a Facebook friend request to the officer. The officer noticed a Facebook post by Charles claiming to have captured a burglary suspect on camera. The post included a link to the photo of the officer that Charles allegedly had posted.
On Sept. 5, Charles allegedly sent an email to the New Mexico office of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that included a reference to killing the Las Cruces officer. The following day, Charles allegedly sent the ACLU a similarly threatening email.
On Nov. 30, in response to a Las Cruces Sun-News Facebook post regarding Las Cruces’ new Chief of Police, Charles allegedly replied indicating that he would be more likely to shoot a Las Cruces police officer than allow himself to be pulled over.
By federal law, the use of any interactive computer service to engage in conduct intended to harass or intimidate another person is a felony. If convicted, Charles faces up to five years in prison. A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI investigated this case in conjunction with the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.