Raton Felon Mark William Elliot Gets 51 Months for Gun, Meth Bust

A Raton man with a long rap sheet was hit with federal time after being caught sleeping on a sidewalk with a loaded gun in his pocket and nearly two dozen grams of meth on his person. Mark William Elliot, 46, of Raton, N.M., was sentenced today in Albuquerque federal court to 51 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition — a crime made more dangerous by his status as a convicted felon.

Elliot’s arrest stemmed from a March 25, 2016 incident in Bernalillo County, where Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers found him unconscious on the sidewalk beside his illegally parked motorcycle — blocking traffic next to a stop sign. When they woke him, officers noticed a distinct bulge in his right front pocket. That bulge turned out to be a loaded firearm. As Elliot tried to run, officers took him down and searched him incident to arrest.

Inside his jacket, police recovered the loaded gun, additional ammunition, approximately 18 grams of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. The discovery triggered a federal case, as Elliot was legally barred from owning any firearm due to prior convictions including receiving or transferring stolen vehicles, tampering with evidence, forgery, and shooting at an occupied building.

In July 2016, a federal grand jury indicted Elliot on multiple charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of meth with intent to distribute. On September 28, 2017, Elliot pleaded guilty to Count 1 — the firearms charge — admitting he knowingly carried the loaded weapon while prohibited by law. Prosecutors dropped the drug distribution charge as part of the plea agreement.

This case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rumaldo R. Armijo, who emphasized the threat violent felons with firearms pose to public safety.

After serving his 51-month sentence, Mark William Elliot will be released under federal supervision for three years. Authorities warn that illegal firearm possession by convicted felons remains a top enforcement priority in New Mexico, particularly when tied to narcotics and prior violent offenses.

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