Nicholas Richard Blume, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, New Mexico 2014

Albuquerque, New Mexico – Nicholas Richard Blume, 35, of Albuquerque, N.M., was ordered detained pending trial on a federal firearms charge.

Blume was arrested on February 12, 2014 on a criminal complaint alleging that he unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition on February 10, 2014 in Bernalillo County, N.M.

According to the criminal complaint, on February 10, 2014, a woman called the Albuquerque Police Department dispatch to report a domestic violence incident at her southeast Albuquerque home. The victim alleged that Blume broke her nose by punching her nose with a closed fist after she complained about his bringing firearms into her home and demanded that he leave her home.

When officers responded to the call, they allegedly found a semi-automatic rifle loaded with 72 rounds of ammunition which the victim claimed was brought into her home by Blume.

On February 10, 2014, Blume was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of the following felony offenses in the 2nd Judicial District Court (Bernalillo County) for the State of New Mexico: aggravated battery and receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle in 2004; the manufacture, distribution and possession of imitation controlled substances and extortion in 2005; possession of a controlled substance in 2008; and robbery in 2012.

If convicted on the offense against him, Blume faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison. If Blume is determined to be a career criminal, he faces an enhanced sentence of not less than 15 years in federal prison upon conviction.

Blume is being prosecuted as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

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