Former City Councilor from Española pleads guilty to stolen firearm charge

              ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Phillip Chacon, 39, of Española, pleaded guilty on Feb. 26 in federal court for possession of a stolen firearm.

              According to the plea agreement, on March 21, 2020, law enforcement arrived at Chacon’s residence to execute a search warrant for an unrelated charge when they saw Chacon outside his house holding several firearms. Chacon was ordered to put down the firearms and walk towards the officers. Instead, Chacon dropped the firearms and ran inside the house where he remained for several hours. Eventually, Chacon came out and was arrested. One of the firearms discovered by law enforcement at the residence was a stolen rifle, which Chacon knowingly possessed.

              Chacon is currently in custody pending sentencing. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

              The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Española Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert I. Goldaris is prosecuting this case.