Albuquerque Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Armed Thug Behavior

ALBUQUERQUE – In a brazen display of lawlessness, 59-year-old Albuquerque resident Joseph Dino Lopez has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. This case was adopted from state prosecution in cooperation with the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

According to court documents, Lopez’s crime unfolded on November 13, 2022, at a Church’s Chicken drive-thru on Broadway Blvd SE. A husband and wife, waiting for their food, found themselves in a terrifying situation when Lopez, appearing under the influence, approached their car, banged on the window, and yelled at them.

Surveillance footage shows Lopez retrieving a blue bag containing a shotgun and approaching the victims’ parked car. After an altercation where the male victim pepper sprayed him, Lopez pulled out the shotgun, loaded it, and pointed it at the couple before they fled. Lopez briefly left the scene to wash the pepper spray out of his eyes, but returned, and APD arrested him as he exited the Church’s Chicken restaurant.

The loaded shotgun was recovered from the blue bag he had left behind, and additional ammunition was discovered in his shirt pocket. At the time of the offense, Lopez had previously been convicted of a total of nine felonies.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Lopez will be required to serve 3 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 Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Haynes prosecuted the case as part of an agreement with the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The partnership between federal and state authorities has led to significant results, with the United States Attorney’s Office reviewing almost 3,000 cases since 2020 and charging over 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.