Anthony Barela, Unlawful Possession of Firearm, New Mexico 2013

Grimy Times Exposé: Barela, a Repeat Offender, Sentenced to 15 Years for Unlawful Possession of Firearm

Anthony Barela, a 56-year-old from Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The harsh sentence was handed down in federal court yesterday.

Barela’s case is a prime example of the federal anti-violence initiative targeted at the ‘worst of the worst’ offenders. This initiative brings together the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution.

The goal of this initiative is to remove repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible. In Barela’s case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies worked closely with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to bring him to justice.

Barela was arrested in November 2013, on a criminal complaint alleging that he unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition on November 9, 2013, in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. According to the criminal complaint, officers from the Albuquerque Police Department apprehended Barela at a home in northwest Albuquerque when they responded to a call reporting a residential burglary.

When the officers arrived at the residence and encountered Barela, he indicated that he had a pistol in his pocket, which he admitted taking from the residence. At the time, Barela was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of armed bank robbery in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico and armed robbery with a deadly weapon in the 2nd Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico in Bernalillo County.

Barela was indicted for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition on December 4, 2013. On September 24, 2014, Barela admitted that he possessed a pistol and ammunition on November 9, 2013, and that he was prohibited from doing so because he was a convicted felon.

The case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Albuquerque Police Department with assistance from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Burkhead prosecuted the case.

Barela’s sentence serves as a warning to repeat offenders that they will be held accountable for their actions. The federal anti-violence initiative is a crucial tool in keeping our communities safe from violent crime.

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