Press Release
Justin Brouillette Facing Federal Carjacking and Firearms Charges
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico
Prosecution Brought Under Federal “Worst of the Worst” Anti-Violence Initiative
ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Thomas G. Atteberry of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Gorden Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) announced today that Justin Brouillette, 21, of Albuquerque, N.M., has been charged with federal carjacking and firearms offenses. Brouillette’s initial appearance in federal court has not yet been scheduled.
Earlier today, the United States filed a criminal complaint alleging that Brouillette committed the following three crimes in Bernalillo County, N.M., on July 8, 2015: (1) attempted carjacking, (2) using and brandishing a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence, and (3) being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Brouillette was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his status as a convicted felon. Court records reflect that Brouillette has two felony convictions for receiving or transferring stolen vehicles in the Second Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico in Bernalillo County.
According to the criminal complaint, Brouillette allegedly used a firearm yesterday afternoon to shoot at APD officers as they attempted to execute a traffic stop on Brouillette as he was driving in southeast Albuquerque. It further alleges that shortly thereafter Brouillette crashed his vehicle into another vehicle (the Ford), and then attempted to carjack the Ford by brandishing a firearm at the Ford’s owner and ordering him out of the car. While Brouillette was allegedly attempting to carjack the Ford, APD officers drove into the area and Brouillette allegedly fled on foot after discharging the firearm at the officers for a second time. APD officers arrested Brouillette late yesterday afternoon and retrieved the firearm allegedly used by Brouillette to shoot at the officers.
If convicted on the charges in the criminal complaint, Brouillette faces a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the attempted carjacking charge, and a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted for brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, Brouillette faces a statutory mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum of life in prison which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the other two charges. Charges in criminal complaints are mere accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the ATF office in Albuquerque and APD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano A. Torrez is prosecuting the case 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. 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.
brouillette_complaint.pdf (246.78 KB)
Updated September 14, 2015
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