Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ALBUQUERQUE – Timothy Lobley, 42, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court to violating the federal firearms laws.  Lobley entered the guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement.  The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Kari E. Brandenburg, Special Agent in Charge Thomas G. Atteberry of the Phoenix Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Gorden Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque Police Department.

Lobley was arrested on March 11, 2014, on a criminal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  According to the complaint, on Oct. 25, 2013, Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers responded to a shoplifting call at a Family Dollar Store located on Central Ave. NW in Albuquerque.  Upon arrival, officers were notified that Lobley and another person were still inside the store and appeared to have a weapon concealed in a black duffle bag.  The complaint alleges that the APD officers found that Lobley had concealed two shirts under his clothes and had a rifle and more store merchandise inside the black duffle bag. 

Lobley subsequently was indicted on March 26, 2014, and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on Oct. 25, 2013, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  At the time, Lobley was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of numerous felony offenses including two counts of auto burglary, residential burglary, felony shoplifting, cocaine possession, commercial burglary, criminal sexual penetration and kidnapping.

During today’s proceedings, Lobley pled guilty to the indictment.  At sentencing, Lobley faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.  If the court determines that Lobley is an armed career criminal, he faces an enhanced sentence of a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison to a maximum of life imprisonment.  Lobley has been in federal custody since his arrest.  He remains in federal custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department with assistance from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Valencia is prosecuting the case.

The case is being prosecuted as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

###