Skip to main content
Press Release

Prior Felon from Albuquerque Sentenced to 103 Months in Prison for Violating Federal Firearms Laws

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico
Defendant Prosecuted Under Federal “Worst of the Worst” Anti-Violence Initiative

ALBUQUERQUE – Nicholas Richard Blume, 37, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced this afternoon in federal court to 103 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Blume was prosecuted 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.

Blume was arrested in Feb. 2014, on a criminal complaint alleging that he unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition on Feb. 10, 2014, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  Blume subsequently was indicted on that same charge on March 11, 2014.  According to court filings, Blume was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition in Feb. 2014, because he previously had been convicted of receiving and transferring a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing great bodily harm, extortion, possession of an imitation controlled substance, possession of a methamphetamine and robbery. 

On Sept. 24, 2014, Blume admitted to the possession of a semiautomatic handgun with a high capacity magazine and ammunition on Feb. 12, 2014.  Blume acknowledged that he was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition because he was a convicted felon.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department with assistance from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis E. Valencia prosecuted the case.

Updated April 23, 2015