Steve Casaus, Felon in Possession of Firearms, New Mexico 2014

New Mexico Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – Steve Casaus, 43, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Kari E. Brandenburg, Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso, Texas, and Chief Gorden Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD).

Casaus was charged in a criminal complaint on April 25, 2014, with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition on April 21, 2014, in Bernalillo County, N.M.

According to the criminal complaint, Casaus was arrested after APD officers observed what they believed to be a drug deal, and based on an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear on a pending state court case.

The complaint alleged that at the time of his arrest, Casaus was in possession of $20,790.00 in cash, 1.3 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm loaded with six rounds of ammunition.

Casaus was subsequently indicted on June 11, 2014, and charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition on April 21, 2014, in Bernalillo County.

Casaus was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior felony convictions of disarming a peace officer, aggravated battery on a peace officer, trafficking by possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.

At sentencing, Casaus faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.

Casaus remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations and APD, with assistance from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh is prosecuting the case.

The case is being prosecuted as part of the federal ‘worst of the worst’ anti-violence initiative.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/steve-casaus-pleads-guilty-federal-firearms-charge