Prior Felons from San Juan County Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms

ALBUQUERQUE – Two prior felons from San Juan County, N.M., were sentenced to prison time by federal judges today for being felons in possession of firearms. The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales and Thomas G. Atteberry, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Nickolas Neil Anaya, 28, of Farmington, N.M., was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In a separate case, Walter White, 32, of Bloomfield, N.M., was sentenced to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Anaya was indicted on Dec. 14, 2011, and was charged with unlawfully possessing a Ruger, Vaquero model, .45 caliber revolver and ammunition in San Juan County on June 23, 2011. Anaya was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of (1) possession of a controlled substance; (2) aggravated assault; and (3) aggravated battery in the Eleventh Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico. Anaya was arrested on April 4, 2012, and has been in federal custody since that time. On Oct. 4, 2012,

Anaya pled guilty to the indictment. As part of his plea deal, Anaya was required to forfeit the firearm and ammunition that were in his possession on Dec. 14, 2011.

White was indicted on July 10, 2012, and charged with unlawfully possessing a Ruger, Model GP 100, .357 caliber revolver in San Juan County on Oct. 11, 2011. White was prohibited from possessing firearms because he previously had been convicted of (1) the unlawful taking of a vehicle; (2) burglary; (3) being a felon in possession of a firearm; (4) larceny; and (5) larceny of a firearm. White was arrested on Sept. 13, 2012, and has been in federal custody since that time. On Nov. 5, 2012, White pled guilty to the indictment and admitted possessing a firearm that he sold at the Farmer’s Market in Bloomfield on Oct. 11,
2011. As part of his plea deal, White was required to forfeit the firearms.

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Explosives and Firearms investigated both cases. It was assisted by the Farmington Police Department on the Anaya case and by the Region II Narcotics Task Force on the White case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis E. Valencia prosecuted the Anaya case and Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh prosecuted the White case.