Albuquerque Felon Sentenced to Seven Years for Unlawfully Possessing Firearm and Ammunition

ALBUQUERQUE – Steve Frank Candelaria, 42, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 84 months in prison for violating the federal firearms laws by unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. Candelaria will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.

Candelaria was arrested on March 29, 2016, on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on Nov. 2, 2015, in Bernalillo County, N.M. According to the indictment, Candelaria was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of several felony offenses, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, trafficking a controlled substance, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine.

On March 28, 2017, Candelaria pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on Nov. 2, 2015, he possessed a firearm and ammunition despite his status as convicted felon.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Kraehe prosecuted the case 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.