Carlsbad Felon Gets Five-Year Sentence for Gun Possession

ALBUQUERQUE – In a grim reminder of the consequences of illegal firearms possession, Justin E. Thompson, 35, from Carlsbad, N.M., was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison today in Las Cruces for violating federal firearms laws.

Thompson’s troubles began on September 18, 2015, when he was arrested on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The arrest stemmed from an incident on December 3, 2014, where Thompson was caught with a cache of weapons and ammunition, despite his prior convictions for distribution of a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

During a search warrant executed as a condition of his supervised probation, officers discovered two gun safes at Thompson’s residence containing 34 firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition. It was clear that Thompson was well-versed in the art of weapon hoarding, all while forbidden from owning or possessing any firearms due to his criminal past.

The court heard Thompson’s guilty plea on November 20, 2015, to a felony charge of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. He admitted that the U.S. Probation Office had discovered the illegal stash during a routine search of his property.

This case was a collaborative effort between the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ammunition (ATF), the U.S. Probation Office, and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee L. Camacho led the prosecution for the government.

Thompson’s sentence is a stark reminder of the severe penalties awaiting those who disregard federal firearms laws, especially those with a history of violent crime and drug offenses.