Artesia Man Sentenced to Nineteen Years for Federal Firearms and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – Bryan O’Keef Kimble, 30, of Artesia, N.M., was sentenced this morning in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 230 months in prison for his conviction on firearms and methamphetamine trafficking charges.  Kimble will be on supervised release for four years after completing his prison sentence.

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said that Kimble 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.

“This is a great example of our cooperative enforcement efforts with our state and local partners.  Our community is much safer with this repeat offender behind bars,” stated Special Agent in Charge Thomas Atteberry of the Phoenix Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,

Kimble was transferred from state custody to federal custody in March 2013 to face federal charges in a criminal complaint alleging that law enforcement authorities seized firearms, methamphetamine and other drugs from Kimble on two separate occasions in Aug. and Sept. 2012.  In Aug. 2013, Kimble was indicted and charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Counts 1 and 4); two counts of carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime (Counts 2 and 5); two counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (Counts 3 and 7); and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number (Count 6).

Kimble was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition in 2012 because he previously had been convicted of the following felony offenses:  possession of a controlled substance in the 3rd Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico (Doña Ana County); and being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.

According to the criminal complaint, on Aug. 12, 2012, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kimble in Las Cruces on local charges after a deputy found a loaded handgun and methamphetamine in Kimble’s possession.  During a search of Kimble’s vehicle, deputies found another firearm, more methamphetamine, marijuana and heroin.  On Sept. 14, 2012, the Las Cruces Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service arrested Kimble in Las Cruces on an outstanding state warrant.  At the time of this second arrest, Kimble was in possession of methamphetamine, approximately 40 pills, and $4,725 in cash; a 9 mm pistol with an obliterated serial number was later found in Kimble’s vehicle.    

On Feb. 5, 2014, Kimble entered a guilty plea to all but Count 5 of the seven-count indictment.  Subsequently, Kimble pled guilty to state offenses arising out of the two incidents leading to his federal charges in the 3rd Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico and is awaiting sentencing in his state case.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the Las Cruces Police Department, the Las Cruces office of the U.S. Marshals Service and the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.