LAS CRUCES, NM – A senseless neighborhood feud exploded into a hail of gunfire on a Las Cruces street in April 2021, leaving one man seriously wounded and landing two others in federal prison. Ruben Martha, 42, and Pablo Vargas, 52, both of Las Cruces, received their sentences this week for their roles in the violent exchange, with Vargas facing the stiffer penalty of 60 months behind bars.
The incident began with a petty dispute during a party at Vargas’s parent’s home on Nevada Street. As Martha, driving with his girlfriend and daughter, passed the residence, an object was thrown at his vehicle. A can was then hurled through the window of his daughter’s car, striking and injuring her. Martha, enraged, returned to the scene, only to be met with a group of individuals, including Vargas, armed with firearms.
Witnesses reported gunfire erupting as the group advanced toward Martha and a newly arrived neighbor. The neighbor was struck in the head by a bullet, miraculously managing to escape with his life, though initially not expected to survive. Martha, retrieving a shotgun from his property, was himself shot in the chest before he could fire a shot. Approximately 39 rounds were exchanged during the chaotic scene.
Federal prosecutors highlighted the defendants’ lengthy criminal histories, painting them as repeat offenders with a disregard for the law. Vargas was previously convicted in 1997 of shooting at or from a motor vehicle. Martha’s rap sheet included convictions in 2000 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal damage to property, and again in 2007 for shooting at a dwelling, aggravated assault, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As convicted felons, both men were illegally in possession of firearms and ammunition at the time of the shooting.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation, with crucial assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Armijo and Christopher McNair. The sentencing of Martha to 21 months and Vargas to 60 months sends a clear message: armed escalation of neighborhood disputes will not be tolerated, and repeat offenders will face the full force of federal law.
While both Martha and the injured neighbor have since recovered from their wounds, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence and the dangers of allowing personal conflicts to spiral out of control. The ATF’s Dallas Field Division, led by Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II, continues to work tirelessly to combat illegal firearms trafficking and reduce gun-related crime throughout the region.
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