Julian Brown, 22, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty today to possessing an unregistered firearm — a weapon cobbled together from a shotgun — used in a heroin deal, sealing his fate in a federal crackdown targeting violent repeat offenders.
Brown was arrested on August 10, 2016, after a months-long ATF-led probe that exploded into one of the largest federal enforcement actions in Bernalillo County history. The sweep resulted in 59 indictments and one criminal complaint charging 104 individuals with federal firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses, all part of a coordinated push to dismantle networks fueling Albuquerque’s violent crime surge.
The investigation kicked off in mid-April 2016, when federal agents from across the country joined forces with local, state, and tribal law enforcement. Using undercover operations, surveillance, and intelligence on multi-convicted felons, authorities zeroed in on those legally barred from owning guns but still arming themselves — and selling drugs.
Brown was charged in an indictment alleging he distributed heroin and possessed a firearm not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) on July 11, 2016, in Bernalillo County. During today’s hearing, he pled guilty to Count 2 — possession of an unregistered firearm — admitting he both possessed and sold the modified shotgun.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, Brown now faces a maximum of ten years in prison. No sentencing date has been set. Prosecutors are pushing for the maximum, citing the weapon’s link to drug trafficking and the broader danger posed by armed felons flooding the streets with untraceable guns.
So far, 25 of the 104 defendants swept up in the operation have entered guilty pleas; one has already been sentenced. The rest maintain their innocence. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Albuquerque and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Han. Charges remain accusations until proven in court.
Related Federal Cases
- Steve Coleman Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · New Mexico
- Albuquerque Man Cowey Edsitty Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession · New Mexico
- Roswell Felon Michael Dalton, 34, Convicted of Illegal Gun Possession · New Mexico
- Carlsbad Felon Lozuaway Admits to Gun Possession · Colorado
- Grants Man Richard Valdez Gets 2 Years for Grenade Possession · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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