Albuquerque Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun Law Violation

ALBUQUERQUE – The grim specter of gun violence was once again illuminated in a federal court as Manuel Herrera, 50, from Albuquerque, N.M., entered a guilty plea for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Herrera’s misdeeds were uncovered on September 11, 2016, when he was nabbed by authorities with a firearm and ammunition. The arrest came just four months after his alleged transgression. His past, littered with serious convictions such as forgery, DUI, bribery, witness intimidation, felony firearms possession, substance possession, and assault with a deadly weapon, made his current charges no surprise.

Standing before the court today, Herrera admitted to the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, marking another chapter in his troubled history. If sentenced to the maximum term, he could spend ten years behind bars for this latest offense, which has yet to be scheduled.

The Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office were instrumental in bringing Herrera to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is now tasked with prosecuting this harrowing case.

Despite his admission and the potential for a lengthy sentence, the Albuquerque streets remain under siege from those who would misuse firearms. As the community grapples with the daily threat of gun violence, the plea of Manuel Herrera serves as a stark reminder of the repercussions faced by felons who flout federal firearms laws.

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