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Rio Rancho Man Sentenced to 8.5 Years in Federal Prison for Violating Federal Firearms Laws
ALBUQUERQUE – In a shocking turn of events, Christopher Rooks, 30, of Rio Rancho, N.M., was sentenced yesterday to 102 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating the federal firearms laws.
Rooks was convicted of stealing firearms from the Rio Rancho Armory in July 2012. The Rio Rancho Police Department and the Albuquerque office of the ATF investigated the case and charged Rooks with possession of stolen firearms, possession of an unregistered firearm (a silencer), stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee, and being a felon in possession of firearms.
On Aug. 9, 2012, Rooks was arrested on a criminal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm after ATF agents and officers of the Rio Rancho Police Department executed a search warrant at his residence and seized six firearms. At the time, Rooks was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of two felony offenses in California.
Rooks subsequently pleaded guilty to Counts 2 and 3 of the indictment, charging him with possession of an unregistered firearm and stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee. In entering his guilty plea, Rooks admitted possessing an unregistered silencer on Aug. 9, 2012, and stealing five firearms from a federal firearms licensee doing business as the Rio Rancho Armory on July 25, 2012.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales, Thomas G. Atteberry, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Division of the ATF, and Chief Robert Boone of the Rio Rancho Police Department announced Rooks’ sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh.
Rooks’ sentence serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of violating federal firearms laws. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protecting the public and enforcing laws that prohibit felons from possessing firearms.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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