Man from Roswell sentenced to 207 months in prison for firearm and drug offenses after shooting at police following high-speed chase in 2017

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jose Manuel Diaz-Montelongo, 32, of Roswell, New Mexico was sentenced yesterday in federal court to 207 months in prison for discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

            Diaz-Montelongo pleaded guilty to these offenses on February 21, 2018.   According to public court documents, Diaz-Montelongo led police officers in Roswell on a high-speed chase on September 24, 2017.  Diaz-Montelongo then barricaded himself inside his car for more than two hours before fleeing to a rifle range where he used a berm as cover while shooting at police officers and deputy sheriffs with an assault rifle.  Diaz-Montelongo eventually surrendered to law enforcement.  Police recovered the assault rifle, two pistols, and about 54.6 grams of methamphetamine from the scene.

            Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, Roswell Police Department, and Chaves County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.