Lewis Templeton, Unlawful Firearms Possession, New Mexico 2016

Felony Firearms Case Nets 46 Months in Prison for Eunice Man

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - In a federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., on September 26, 2016, Lewis Templeton, 62, of Eunice, N.M., pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a felony information charging him with violating federal firearms laws.

Templeton was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for his crimes. He was arrested on May 4, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with possessing an unregistered firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm on November 3, 2015, in Lea County, N.M.

A search of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) confirmed that one of the firearms, a sawed-off rifle, was not registered with the NFRTR when law enforcement officers found two rifles and ammunition while executing a search warrant at Templeton’s residence on November 3, 2015.

According to court documents, Templeton was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of a number of felony offenses. Templeton’s criminal history includes a conviction for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis A. Martinez of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.

Templeton admitted that on November 3, 2015, he possessed two firearms and ammunition even though he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of his status as a convicted felon.

Templeton is currently serving his prison sentence for his crimes. His case serves as a reminder that violating federal firearms laws can result in severe consequences.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/lea-county-felon-sentenced-prison-unlawfully-possessing-firearms-and-ammunition