ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Two Albuquerque residents are facing federal charges following an investigation into alleged illegal firearms transfers. Anthony Stephen, 34, and Whitney Bisetti, 22, appeared in court this week accused of conspiring to put guns into the hands of criminals, according to federal prosecutors.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced the indictment, alleging that Stephen and Bisetti knowingly transferred a firearm to an individual they knew was prohibited from possessing one. The timeframe for this alleged conspiracy stretches from May 12 to August 31, 2023. The pair were employees at Shooter’s Den, a local gun store, during the alleged transfers.
The charges don’t stop there. Both Stephen and Bisetti are charged with one count each of firearms trafficking conspiracy and transferring a firearm without registering it with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Stephen faces an additional charge of the same unregistered transfer violation. Specifically, the indictment details the transfer of short-barreled rifles – firearms with barrel lengths less than 16 inches and overall lengths less than 26 inches – on August 9 and August 31, 2023, which were not properly registered.
Federal authorities, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Phoenix Field Division, have been investigating the case. Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber confirmed the ATF’s involvement. The U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez is prosecuting the case, framing it as part of a larger Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations.
OCDETF, a multi-agency initiative, focuses on intelligence-driven investigations and prosecutor leadership to target the most significant criminal threats in the United States. This case highlights the ongoing efforts to curb illegal gun trafficking and hold accountable those who facilitate it. Both Stephen and Bisetti have been released on conditions pending trial, the date of which has not yet been set.
If convicted on the charges, both Stephen and Bisetti face a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years. An indictment is, however, merely an accusation, and both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The investigation remains ongoing, and further details may emerge as the case progresses.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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