A federal grand jury has indicted 69-year-old Larry Mitchell Hopkins of Flora Vista, N.M., on charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The indictment, returned in Albuquerque, alleges Hopkins knowingly possessed guns and live rounds in San Juan County in November 2017 — a crime under federal law due to his prior felony convictions.
Hopkins, also known as Johnny Horton, Jr., was arrested April 20, 2019, by FBI agents with assistance from the Sunland Park Police Department in Sunland Park, N.M. He has remained in federal custody since the arrest. The takedown was part of a coordinated operation led by the FBI’s Farmington Resident Agency, with support from its Las Cruces office.
Court records show Hopkins has prior convictions for serious offenses, including being a felon in possession of a firearm, impersonating a peace officer, and possession of a loaded firearm as a convicted felon — each punishable by at least one year behind bars. These prior convictions form the legal basis for the federal charge, which prohibits individuals with felony records from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Hopkins is scheduled for arraignment at 9:30 a.m. on April 29, 2019, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen B. Molzen in the Rio Grande courtroom at the federal courthouse in Albuquerque. A detention hearing is set for the same day, where prosecutors are expected to argue he poses a risk to public safety.
If convicted, Hopkins faces a maximum statutory penalty of ten years in federal prison. Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Kraehe, will present evidence linking him to the firearms in question. No plea has been entered, and Hopkins is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The case underscores ongoing federal efforts to target illegal gun possession in New Mexico, particularly among individuals with violent criminal histories. U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson and FBI Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg confirmed the indictment, reaffirming their commitment to enforcing federal firearms laws across the state.
Related Federal Cases
- Steve Coleman Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession · New Mexico
- Davon Lymon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Charge · New Mexico
- Albuquerque Man Cowey Edsitty Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession · New Mexico
- Julian Brown, 22, Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession in ABQ · New Mexico
- Felony Firearm Offender Pleads Guilty: Daryl Jay Dickson · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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