Prior Felon from McKinley County Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Firearm

ALBUQUERQUE – Steve Coleman, 56, of Thoreau, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to violating the federal firearms laws.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Coleman will be sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by not more than three years of supervised release. 

Coleman was arrested on Feb. 4, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm on Jan. 21, 2016, in McKinley County, N.M. 

Coleman was subsequently indicted on Feb. 24, 2016, and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR).  Coleman was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his previous felony convictions which include, unlawful sale of migratory birds, dangerous use of explosives and bribery/retaliation of a witness.

During today’s proceedings, Coleman pled guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and admitted that on Jan. 21, 2016, he was in possession of two pistols, which he was not allowed to possess because of his prior felony convictions.  Coleman further admitted that he discharged one firearm at his neighbor’s dogs.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Mexico State Police and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Han is prosecuting the case.