Jaime Santiesteban, Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, New Mexico 2017

ALBUQUERQUE FELON PLEADS GUILTY TO BEING IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM AND AMMUNITION

ALBUQUERQUE – Jaime Santiesteban, a 37-year-old resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to violating federal firearms laws by being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Santiesteban’s plea agreement recommends a prison sentence between 63 to 92 months, followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Santiesteban was arrested on September 7, 2017, after Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers found ammunition in a stolen vehicle recently occupied by him. He was also found to be in possession of a firearm in the backyard of a residence that he had run past while attempting to evade arrest.

Santiesteban was previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm, tampering with evidence, and battery on a peace officer. As a convicted felon, Santiesteban is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

During today’s proceedings, Santiesteban pleaded guilty to the indictment, admitting that he attempted to evade arrest because he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. He also acknowledged that APD detectives found a firearm magazine in the stolen truck and a firearm missing a magazine in the backyard of a residence where he discarded the firearm as he attempted to flee from the detectives.

Santiesteban remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the APD, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley prosecuting the case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat offenders for federal prosecution.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to target for federal prosecution violent or repeat offenders with the goal of removing them from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.