A convicted felon from Columbus, New Mexico, has been brought to justice after pleading guilty to violating federal firearms laws. Jose Valladolid, 44, was arrested on August 6, 2014, at the Columbus International Port of Entry in Luna County, New Mexico, for being a felon in possession of firearms and attempting to export those firearms out of the United States.
According to court documents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers, along with U.S. Border Patrol Agents, arrested Valladolid after they found two firearms in his vehicle. At the time, Valladolid was prohibited from possessing firearms because he previously had been convicted of a marijuana trafficking crime.
Valladolid was indicted in November 2014 on a two-count indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and fraudulently attempting to smuggle two rifles out of the United States. During today’s proceedings, Valladolid pled guilty to Count 1 of the indictment and admitted possessing the firearms discovered in his vehicle on August 6, 2014.
He also admitted that he was prohibited from possessing the firearms because he was a convicted felon. Valladolid has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
At sentencing, Valladolid faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. This case was investigated by the Deming office of Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, and the Las Cruces office of the DEA.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brock E. Taylor of the Las Cruces branch office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping our communities safe from violent crime and holding those accountable who attempt to smuggle firearms and other contraband into our country.
The successful prosecution of this case is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the law enforcement agencies involved. This case highlights the importance of working together to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands and to keep our communities safe.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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