Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Five Years for Violating the Federal Firearms Laws

ALBUQUERQUE – Antonio Escobedo, 41, a resident of Albuquerque, N.M., from Calera, Zacatecas, Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court to 60 months in prison for violating the federal firearms laws.  Escobedo will be deported following his term of incarceration. 

Escobedo was arrested in Feb. 2012, and charged by criminal complaint with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 2, 2012, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  According to the complaint, on Feb. 2, 2012, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Escobedo’s residence and vehicle and seized approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine, three firearms and ammunition, $12,541.00 in cash and drug paraphernalia. 

Escobedo was indicted on March 1, 2012, and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  The indictment was subsequently superseded on June 26, 2013, charging Escobedo with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Escobedo was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his previous felony convictions. 

On July 1, 2014, Escobedo pled guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Escobedo admitted that on Feb. 2, 2012, he possessed methamphetamine inside of a shed on his property and inside of his vehicle, $12,541.00 in a bedroom closet, scales for weighing illegal drugs and wireless telephones for communicating about methamphetamine trafficking.  He further admitted that the methamphetamine was intended for distribution to others and not for his personal use.  Escobedo also admitted that he possessed three firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities and that he was prepared to use the firearms to protect the controlled substances and proceeds of his drug trafficking activities.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of the DEA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.