James Garcia, Violating Federal Firearms Laws, New Mexico 2014

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A Grants man was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating federal firearms laws.

James Garcia, 46, was arrested in July 2014, on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition on July 11, 2014, in Bernaliquerro County, New Mexico.

According to the complaint, when Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested Garcia on an outstanding state warrant, Garcia was in possession of a loaded handgun, ammunition, approximately 5.2 grams of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.

Garcia was subsequently indicted on February 10, 2015, and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleged that in July 2014, Garcia was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior convictions for aggravated assault against a household member, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and false imprisonment.

In entering the guilty plea, Garcia acknowledged that in July 2014, he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his status as a convicted felon.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of the DEA, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service with assistance from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh.

Garcia's sentence was imposed by the court. He will serve 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/grants-man-sentenced-prison-violating-federal-firearms-laws