Otero County Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Firearms Laws

ALBUQUERQUE – David Ausborn Hiles, 48, of La Luz, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Hiles will be sentenced to a prison term not to exceed 70 months followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. 

Hiles was arrested in Feb. 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  The complaint alleged that Hiles unlawfully possessed 36 firearms and ammunition at his residence in Otero County, N.M., on Nov. 25, 2014.  According to the criminal complaint, the New Mexico State Police found the firearms and ammunition while executing a search warrant at Hiles’ residence. 

Hiles was subsequently indicted on the same charge on April 14, 2015.  The indictment noted that Hiles was prohibited from possessing either firearms or ammunition because he previously has been convicted of the felony offenses of attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, tampering with evidence, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and intimidation of a witness.

During today’s proceedings, Hiles pled guilty to a felony information charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  Hiles admitted that on Nov. 25, 2014, he was in possession of 36 firearms and approximately 15,000 rounds of miscellaneous ammunition.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Hiles will forfeit the firearms and ammunition.

Hiles remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Mexico State Police, with assistance from the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for the State of New Mexico.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.