Albuquerque Man Cowey Edsitty Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession

Cowey Edsitty, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., stood before a federal judge today and admitted to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition in McKinley County — a violation of federal law that could land him behind bars for up to ten years.

Edsitty was arrested in July 2016 after being indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, stemming from an incident on May 3, 2016. Despite having no legal right to own or handle a weapon, court records show he was found with both a firearm and live rounds in a region already plagued by violent crime.

The conviction carries weight due to Edsitty’s criminal history — a rap sheet that includes residential burglary, assault with intent to commit a violent felony, aggravated battery, and aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer. Each of these prior felonies legally bars him from possessing any firearm or ammunition under federal statute.

During the hearing, Edsitty entered a guilty plea without the protection of a plea agreement, meaning prosecutors offered no concessions and the judge retains full discretion at sentencing. His admission bypassed a trial but did nothing to soften the potential consequences he now faces.

He remains in federal custody as authorities await sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. With no deal on the table, Edsitty now faces the full brunt of the law — a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison and possible financial penalties.

The case was jointly investigated by the FBI’s Gallup office and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, highlighting ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal gun possession in high-crime areas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez is prosecuting the case, signaling federal prioritization of weapons violations tied to repeat offenders.