ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Jay Ray Kelly, 39, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was seen walking in Shiprock, firing a handgun into the air on the morning of May 15, 2025. Concerned citizens called police, who later arrested Kelly with a handgun and 155 rounds of ammunition in a backpack.
Kelly is charged federally with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. In 2006, Kelly was convicted in the District of New Mexico for possessing a firearm in a school zone. Because of this 2006 federal felony conviction, Kelly was prohibited from possessing all firearms and ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
As a convicted felon, Kelly is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition. The charges against him are a serious reminder of the consequences of violating federal laws.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being prosecuted as part of an ongoing effort to hold individuals accountable for their actions and to keep our communities safe.
The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office at (505) 849-4150.
Related Federal Cases
- Terrell Ray Antonio, Vehicular Assault, New Mexico 2016 · New Mexico
- Juan Carlos Hernandez, Assaulting an FBI Agent with a Firearm, Mesa… · Texas
- Andre Kase Jr, Possession of Stolen Firearm, Cedar Rapids IA, 2013 · Washington
- Darrel Salazar, Brandishing Firearm, Albuquerque NM, 2023 · New Mexico
- Roman I Trujillo, Home Invasion, New Mexico 2015 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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