Christopher Blattner, Violating Federal Firearms Laws, New Mexico 2023

New Mexico Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Firearms Laws

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Christopher Blattner, 35, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty to violating federal firearms laws. The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Thomas G. Atteberry of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Gorden Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD).

According to the plea agreement, Blattner will be sentenced to 30 years in federal prison to be followed by up to five years of supervised release. The guilty plea was made as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets ‘the worst of the worst’ offenders for federal prosecution.

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said that Blattner was prosecuted as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets ‘the worst of the worst’ offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

Noting that Blattner’s prior criminal history includes four prior narcotics trafficking convictions in the 2nd and 13th Judicial District Courts for the State of New Mexico, U.S. Attorney Martinez said, ‘Blattner is the precisely the type of offender targeted by this federal initiative. Our families, friends and neighbors are safer when career criminals like Blattner are removed from our communities.’

‘The streets are safer and people can sleep a little easier knowing that there is one less armed drug dealer poisoning our neighborhoods,’ said ATF Special Agent in Charge Thomas G. Atteberry. ‘ATF and the Albuquerque Police Department are committed to reducing violent crime and arresting those who seek to reduce the quality of life in our community. The sentence to be imposed on Christopher Blattner sends the strong message that we will not tolerate the criminal use of firearms.’

‘Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message to habitual criminals that the Albuquerque Police Department is working closely with ATF and federal prosecutors to hold them accountable for their crimes in our community,’ said APD Police Chief Gorden Eden, Jr. ‘This case is a great example of how the cooperative enforcement efforts with our federal partners enhance public safety in Albuquerque.’

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