ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Freddie Granger, 42, is headed to federal prison for 25 years after admitting to a string of violent crimes that included illegally peddling firearms and violently stealing a vehicle from a man protecting a child. The sentencing, handed down this week, closes a case that exposed Granger as a repeat offender with a blatant disregard for the law.
According to court records, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) first caught wind of Granger’s illegal operation in June 2022. An undercover agent purchased two firearms from Granger – including a high-powered AR-style rifle with high-capacity magazines – a clear violation of federal law considering Granger’s extensive criminal history. He’d already been convicted of seven felonies, including involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Granger freely admitted to the agent he’d been selling guns “for a long time” and was eager to make “package deals.”
Just days after the gun sale, on June 13, 2022, Granger’s criminal activity escalated. While driving a vehicle with a missing license plate and swerving erratically, he was pulled over by a Carlsbad Police Department officer. He initially provided false identification, then bolted, crashing the car near a marijuana dispensary. It was there he encountered his victim, identified in court documents only as John Doe, who was exiting his vehicle with a 7-year-old child in the backseat.
Granger didn’t hesitate. He brandished a firearm at Doe, demanded his keys, and stole the vehicle after Doe ensured the child was safely removed. The brazen carjacking underscored the danger posed by Granger’s unchecked criminal behavior. He remained at large for over a month before being apprehended on July 8, 2023, still driving Doe’s stolen vehicle – now spray-painted in an attempt to disguise it.
“This sentencing sends a clear message that those who illegally traffic firearms and commit violent crimes will be held accountable,” stated Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Phoenix Field Division, added that the case highlights the agency’s commitment to stemming the flow of illegal weapons and protecting communities.
Following his 25-year prison term, Freddie Granger will be subject to an additional five years of supervised release. Assistant United States Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal prosecuted the case, bringing a decisive end to Granger’s criminal enterprise. The ATF investigation was crucial in bringing him to justice, demonstrating the importance of federal partnerships in combating gun violence and violent crime.
Related Federal Cases
- Anthony Lutz Charged with Unlawful Dealing in Firearms, Albuquerque NM, 2024 · Colorado
- Anthony Lutz, Unlawful Firearms Dealing, Albuquerque NM, 2024 · New Mexico
- Arthur Quintana, Illegal Firearms, Albuquerque NM, 2023 · New Mexico
- Steve Coleman, Felon in Possession of Firearms, New Mexico 2016 · Colorado
- Jarvis Johnson, Felon in Possession of Firearms, NM 2024 · Colorado
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