ALBUQUERQUE MAN ARRAIGNED ON FEDERAL FIREARMS CHARGES

ALBUQUERQUE – Marcos Barela, 28, of Albuquerque, N.M., made his initial appearance in federal court today on an indictment charging him with violating the federal firearms laws.  Barela remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing which are currently scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Barela was charged by federal indictment on Oct. 7, 2015, with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition on May 4, 2015, in Bernalillo County. N.M.  According to the indictment, Barela was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior criminal history which includes felony convictions for embezzlement, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a controlled substance, battery on a peace officer, arson and criminal damage to property.

Barela was arrested on a warrant for a state probation violation on May 4, 2015.  He was arrested on the federal indictment today after he was transferred to federal custody from state custody.

If convicted of the offense against him, Barela faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.  If Barela is determined to be a career criminal, he faces an enhanced sentence of not less than 15 years in federal prison upon conviction.  The indictment against Barela is merely an accusation and Barela is presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the DEA with assistance from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Probation and Parole Division of the New Mexico Corrections Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh is prosecuting the case as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative.  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 felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat and violent offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.  Because New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Bernalillo County, under this initiative.