Maurice Lacey, Federal Firearms Offense, New Mexico 2022

An Albuquerque man was convicted by a federal jury of a federal firearms offense after he shot his wife at her workplace.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Oct. 21, 2022, Maurice Lacey, 65, of Albuquerque, entered the employee breakroom at the Walmart Neighborhood Market located at 4700 Cutler Ave NE in Albuquerque and shot his wife in the back of the head.

Lacey then walked to the customer service desk near the front of the store, tossed a black handgun on the counter, and said “I just shot my wife.”

The evidence presented at trial proved Lacey knew that he was a convicted felon and therefore he could not legally possess a firearm and ammunition.

Lacey had been previously convicted of seven felony offenses, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and trafficking controlled substances.

The Court ordered that Lacey remain in detention pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Lacey faces up to 15 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Trembley and Patrick E. Cordova are prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/albuquerque-man-convicted-federal-firearms-offense