Carlsbad Felon Lozuaway Admits to Gun Possession

LAS CRUCES, NM – Deloris Lozuaway, 61, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, has admitted to illegally possessing firearms, entering a guilty plea in federal court yesterday. The conviction comes despite a lack of a plea agreement, signaling Lozuaway’s decision to take responsibility, however belatedly, for her actions.

Lozuaway’s troubles began in August 2014 when she was apprehended in Denver, Colorado, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). She was subsequently transported back to New Mexico to face charges stemming from an indictment alleging unlawful firearm possession on February 15, 2013, and March 7, 2013, both incidents occurring in Eddy County, New Mexico.

Court documents reveal Lozuaway was already legally barred from owning firearms due to prior convictions for false pretenses and armed robbery. She specifically pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, admitting to possessing rifles during both February and March of 2013. The details of those rifles – make, model, and how she obtained them – remain under wraps, but investigators will likely seek that information at sentencing.

Lozuaway has been held in federal custody since her arrest, and will remain so until a sentencing hearing is scheduled. The length of that wait is unknown, but when the day comes, she faces a stiff penalty: a statutory maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison. Given her history, and the seriousness of possessing firearms while a convicted felon, a significant sentence is all but guaranteed.

The ATF’s Las Cruces office spearheaded the investigation, a clear indication of the agency’s focus on keeping guns out of the hands of those with criminal pasts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis A. Martinez, from the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office, is prosecuting the case, pushing for a conviction that sends a message about the consequences of breaking federal firearms laws.

This case underscores the persistent threat posed by individuals illegally armed despite a criminal history. While Lozuaway’s plea brings a degree of closure, it’s a grim reminder of the work facing federal law enforcement in New Mexico and across the country. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves towards sentencing and beyond.