Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

ALBUQUERQUE – James Casaus, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today to 96 months in federal prison for violating the federal firearms laws.  Casaus will be on supervised release for three years after completing his term of incarceration.

Casaus was arrested in Nov. 2012, on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The indictment alleged that Casaus unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition on July 7, 2012, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  At the time, Casaus was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of numerous felony offenses in the 2nd and 4th Fourth Judicial District Courts for the State of New Mexico.  Casaus’ prior convictions included convictions for the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance.

On Aug. 21, 2013, Casaus entered a guilty plea to the indictment and admitted possessing a pistol and ammunition on July 7, 2012, despite his status as a convicted felon.  The guilty plea was entered without the benefit of a plea agreement. 

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis E. Valencia. 

The case was prosecuted as part of 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 for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.