Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ALBUQUERQUE – Kenneth Durante, 57, of Ramah, N.M., was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for his possession of a stolen firearm conviction. Durante will be on supervised release for three years after completing his term of incarceration.

Durante was arrested on Jan. 6, 2014, in Gallup, N.M., on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleged that Durante unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition on July 6, 2013, in McKinley County, N.M. At the time, Durante was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he previously had been convicted of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, attempted second degree murder and possession of marijuana.

On Dec. 3, 2014, Durante pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of a stolen firearm. Durante admitted possessing a loaded revolver which had been stolen from a residence when he was encountered by law enforcement on July 6, 2013, in McKinley County, N.M.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh.

The case was 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.