Owner and Operators of Gun Shop in Hobbs Arraigned on Federal Firearms Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal grand jury has returned a seven-count indictment charging Carlos Jonathan Cruz, 30, the owner of Hobbs Satellite Company Guns & Ammo, and his parents, Carlos Carlon Cruz, 59, and Norma M. Cruz, 56, with violations of the federal firearms laws.  The three defendants were arraigned on the indictment today in Las Cruces federal court and entered not guilty pleas.  They were released under pretrial supervision pending trial of the case.

Counts 1 and 2 of the indictment allege that on two occasions in April 2013, the three defendants made false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms by an individual who was acting as a “straw purchaser” and buying firearms on behalf of others.  Counts 3 and 4 charge Carlos Jonathan Cruz with unlawfully selling thousands of rounds of ammunition to an individual whom he had reason to believe was an alien illegally in the United States in April 2013 and May 2013.  Count 5 charges Carlos Jonathan Cruz with unlawfully possessing an unregistered sawed-off shot gun and Counts 6 and 7 charge him with unlawfully possessing firearms with obliterated serial numbers in May 2013.  The indictment alleges that all seven offenses were committed in Lea County, N.M.

Counts 1, 2, 6 and 7 of the indictment each carry a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison on conviction.  Counts 3, 4 and 5 each carry a maximum penalty of ten years in prison on conviction.  Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hobbs Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.