A 29-year-old Mescalero man is behind bars, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Wallace Reid Rice, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, appeared in federal court in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
Rice was found in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun on the Mescalero Apache Reservation on July 25. This is a serious offense, considering Rice’s prior conviction of possession with intent to distribute a substance containing methamphetamine in 2016. As a previously convicted felon, he cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
The defendant will remain detained pending trial, facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted. A complaint is only an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Mescalero Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs is investigating this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Matilda McCarthy Villalobos is prosecuting the case.
Rice’s prior conviction in 2016 carries significant weight in this case. His inability to possess a firearm or ammunition due to his felony status is a crucial aspect of the charges against him.
The case highlights the importance of responsible firearm ownership and the consequences of violating federal laws. If convicted, Rice will face the full extent of the law.
Related Federal Cases
- Felon’s Gun Grip: 27-Year-Old Alshekhly Charged with Firearm Possession · Alabama
- Andre Kase Jr, Possession of Stolen Firearm, Cedar Rapids IA, 2013 · Iowa
- Juan Carlos Hernandez, Assaulting an FBI Agent with a Firearm, Mesa… · Arizona
- Darrel Salazar, Brandishing Firearm, Albuquerque NM, 2023 · New Mexico
- Roman I Trujillo, Home Invasion, New Mexico 2015 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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