DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of New Mexico

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, January 17, 2018
James D. Tierney
, United States Attorney
Contact: Elizabeth M. Martinez

Prior Felon from Carlsbad Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Firearms and Ammunition

Prosecuted Under Federal “Worst of the Worst” Anti-Violence Initiative

ALBUQUERQUE – Nathaniel Eddie Madrid, 40, of Carlsbad, N.M., was sentenced this morning in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 57 months in prison for violating the federal firearms laws by unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition.  Madrid will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.

 

Madrid, whose prior criminal history includes felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, breaking and entering, armed robbery with a deadly weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, was prosecuted under 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 primarily based on their prior criminal convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

 

Madrid was arrested on April 18, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of a firearm not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) in Lincoln County, N.M.  According to the complaint, law enforcement officers recovered three firearms, ammunition, marijuana and drug paraphernalia from Madrid’s vehicle.  A search of the NFRTR also revealed that Madrid did not have any firearms registered in his name.

 

Madrid subsequently was indicted on Aug. 17, 2016, and charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition on Oct. 26, 2015, in Lincoln County.  According to the indictment, Madrid was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his status as a convicted felon.  Court documents indicate that Madrid was on probation for a conviction for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition when he was arrested.

 

On Jan. 12, 2017, Madrid pled guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.  

 

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Mexico State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfred J. Perez of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.

 

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Phoenix Field Division