Jose Alfredo Morales, Ammunition Possession, New Mexico 2023

State: New Mexico
Category: Violent Crime
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/man-la-union-charged-being-felon-possession-ammunition" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

Felon Charged with Ammunition Possession

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A La Union man has been charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition, according to federal court documents. Jose Alfredo Morales, 30, will remain in custody pending trial.

According to a criminal complaint, officers from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported assault involving strangulation at a residence in La Union on May 15. The officers obtained a warrant to search the residence, where they allegedly found multiple rounds of ammunition.

On May 19, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a federal search warrant for the home, of which Morales is the sole resident, and allegedly located multiple rounds of ammunition.

Morales has prior felony convictions, including for shooting at or from a motor vehicle, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and battery upon a peace officer. As a convicted felon, Morales cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Morales faces up to 10 years in prison.

The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of repeat offenders possessing firearms and ammunition. The community is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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