Las Cruces Man Sentenced to Prison for Violating Federal Firearms Laws

ALBUQUERQUE – Michael Paul Astorga, 30, of Las Cruces, N.M., was sentenced this morning in federal court to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating the federal firearms laws.

Astorga was arrested on Nov. 20, 2014, on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition on Aug. 31, 2012, in Doña Ana County, N.M.  At the time, Astorga was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of robbery.

Astorga pled guilty to the indictment on Feb. 26, 2015, and admitted that on Aug. 31, 2012, he sold two firearms and ammunition to an undercover law enforcement agent and a person working with law enforcement.  He also acknowledged that as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.