Rio Rancho Man Sentenced for 10 Years for Carjacking, Gun Crimes

Rio Rancho Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Carjacking, Gun Crimes

A Rio Rancho man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to carjacking and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Daniel Pacheco, 31, of Rio Rancho, was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque.

According to court documents, Pacheco approached the victim in the early morning hours of January 6, 2021, brandished a firearm, and struck her repeatedly. He stole the victim’s purse and car keys before fleeing in her vehicle. The victim’s car was equipped with a LoJack anti-theft GPS tracking device, allowing police to locate the vehicle at an apartment complex north of Old Town Albuquerque.

When officers attempted to arrest Pacheco, he rammed police vehicles and fled on foot before being apprehended. During the arrest, officers seized two loaded firearms, extra magazines, and various illegal drugs from Pacheco’s person. The victim positively identified Pacheco and the firearm used in the carjacking.

Pacheco admitted to being present during the incident but denied brandishing a firearm. After completing his term of imprisonment, Pacheco will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman made the announcement today. The New Mexico State Police investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and Albuquerque Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Burkhead and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Haynes prosecuted the case as part of an agreement with the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The agreement allows Assistant District Attorneys to be designated as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) in the United States Attorney’s Office.

The SAUSA from the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office screens felony criminal complaints filed in Bernalillo County for federal criminal offenses, prioritizing federal charges against those who drive violence in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Since 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office has reviewed almost 3,000 cases and has charged more than 300 criminal cases pursuant to this program.

The United States Attorney’s Office has similar agreements with the New Mexico Department of Justice and the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office and plans to expand the program throughout the state.