Jonas Brandon Sanchez, Armed Robbery, New Mexico 2023

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Gunman Sentenced to 17 Years for Whataburger Robbery

An Albuquerque man with a long history of crime has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for a brazen armed robbery at a local Whataburger restaurant.

Jonas Brandon Sanchez, 40, was found guilty of robbing the Whataburger in the South Valley on June 10, 2023. Sanchez brandished a 9mm ‘ghost gun’ equipped with a high-capacity magazine and stole approximately $60. During the robbery, Sanchez fired a round into a wall, putting everyone present in harm’s way.

The incident was captured on multiple high-resolution surveillance cameras, which showed Sanchez firing the gun, removing cash from the drawer, and pointing the gun at an employee.

On July 7, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Sanchez’s residence, recovering the firearm used in the robbery and the clothing he wore during the crime. Ballistics analysis from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network matched the shell casing found at the scene to Sanchez’s pistol.

Sanchez was a nine-time convicted felon at the time of the offense, making him a priority target for federal prosecutors. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced the sentence today.

Sanchez will serve 204 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The case was investigated by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, Albuquerque Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Sanchez’s sentence is a result of a collaborative effort between local and federal law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has similar agreements with the New Mexico Department of Justice and the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, which prioritize federal charges against violent offenders in the Albuquerque metropolitan area.