Albuquerque Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

ALBUQUERQUE – Jaime Santiesteban, 37, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to violating the federal firearms laws by being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Santiesteban’s plea agreement recommends a prison sentence within the range of 63 to 92 months followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Santiesteban was arrested in Sept. 2017, and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on Sept. 7, 2017.  According to the complaint, Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers found ammunition in a stolen vehicle recently occupied by Santiesteban and a firearm in the backyard of a residence that Santiesteban had run past while attempting to evade arrest. 

Santiesteban was indicted on Sept. 21, 2017, and was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on Sept. 7, 2017, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  According to the indictment, Santiesteban was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm, tampering with evidence, and battery on a peace officer.

During today’s proceedings, Santiesteban pled guilty to the indictment.  In entering the guilty plea, Santiesteban admitted that on Sept. 7, 2017, APD detectives were conducting an operation when they heard gunshots, and observed Santiesteban driving a stolen truck.  He also admitted that the APD detectives found a firearm magazine in the stolen truck and a firearm missing a magazine in the backyard of a residence where he discarded the firearm as he attempted to flee from the detectives.  Santiesteban acknowledged that he attempted to evade arrest because he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Santiesteban remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the APD.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley is prosecuting the case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat 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 for federal prosecution violent or repeat offenders with the goal of removing them from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.