Jacquan Abe, Federal Robbery, New Mexico 2023

An Albuquerque man has been sentenced to 14 years and three months in prison following a federal robbery and firearms conviction, authorities announced on July 7. Jacquan Abe, 24, was found guilty of robbery, using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a stolen firearm by a federal jury on February 25.

An investigation by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department led to Abe’s arrest. On August 6, 2019, Abe confronted an employee of an automobile repair shop on Eubank Boulevard, accusing the business of spying on his home with its security cameras.

The shop employee retrieved a pistol from inside the shop and returned to the front of the business where Abe was standing. Abe attacked the shop employee and they wrestled on the ground. The gun became loose and Abe picked it up. He made several attempts to shoot the weapon at the shop employee’s head, but no bullets discharged because the gun’s safety mechanism was engaged.

Still armed with the gun, Abe ran into a nearby insurance business. Abe pointed the gun at a sales agent and demanded she show him where the business kept its cash. The sales agent took Abe to the back of the business where he took money from a petty cash box before attempting to flee.

A worker from a neighboring smoke shop confronted Abe with a gun. Abe tripped and dropped his gun, which the smoke shop worker picked up as Abe fled.

After releasing video footage to the news media, the Albuquerque Police Department received an anonymous tip identifying Abe. Employees of the auto shop, insurance business, and smoke shop all positively identified Abe in photo arrays, and Abe was arrested.

Abe will be subject to five years of supervised release upon his release from prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Trembley and Sean J. Sullivan.

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