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Rio Rancho Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Firearms Laws
A 38-year-old man from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, according to a recent plea agreement. Richard A. Archuleta faces a maximum of eight years in federal prison under the terms of the plea agreement.
Archuleta was arrested in August 2014, based on an indictment filed on September 25, 2013, charging him with unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition on June 3, 2013, in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The indictment was subsequently superseded on October 7, 2014, to include an additional charge of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition on August 7, 2014, in Bernalillo County.
According to court filings, Archuleta was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of aggravated battery, attempted kidnapping, false imprisonment, and failure to register as a sex offender.
During today’s proceedings, Archuleta pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition on June 3, 2013. In entering the guilty plea, Archuleta admitted possessing a firearm and ammunition in the console of the vehicle he was driving when he was stopped by officers on June 3, 2013. He acknowledged that as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing either the firearm or the ammunition.
Archuleta has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh is prosecuting this case.
The charges against Archuleta include being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, a felony offense under federal law. The maximum penalty for this offense is 10 years in federal prison.
Archuleta’s guilty plea is a significant step in bringing closure to this case. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to keeping our communities safe from violent crime.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Felon in Possession of Firearms|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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