Chad Walter Gash, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, New Mexico 2024

Albuquerque, New Mexico - In a shocking turn of events, Chad Walter Gash, a 43-year-old man from Quemado, New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to a federal firearm offense. According to court documents, law enforcement seized 13 firearms and ammunition from his property during a search in April 2024.

The investigation began when the Catron County Sheriff’s Office was investigating residential burglaries and identified Gash as a person of interest. During the investigation, it was determined that Gash had previously been convicted in Texas in 2014 of manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance and had completed his sentence in October 2019. As a convicted felon, Gash was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Neighbors reported that firearms were regularly being fired from Gash’s property, and investigators learned that Gash had possessed numerous firearms there. On April 30, 2024, officers executed a search warrant at Gash’s residence and recovered 13 firearms and ammunition from his bedroom and a travel trailer associated with him, along with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Some of the seized weapons included an unregistered short-barreled shotgun and a destructive device.

Gash pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces up to 15 years in prison at sentencing. The case was investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, with assistance from the Catron County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Dickens and Benjamin Suslavich are prosecuting the case.

The guilty plea marks a significant victory for law enforcement in their efforts to keep our communities safe from firearms and other illicit activities. The case serves as a reminder that those who break the law will be held accountable.

Gash is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date, and it is unclear at this time what the exact sentence will be. However, one thing is certain: Gash will face the consequences of his actions.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/quemado-man-pleads-guilty-federal-firearm-offense