Torrance County Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Firearms Laws

ALBUQUERQUE – Fredric Dodd, 40, of McIntosh, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Dodd was arrested on Sept. 1, 2015, on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  According to the indictment, Dodd committed the offense in Eddy County, N.M., on May 20, 2015.  At the time, Dodd was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of numerous felony offenses, including aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle, larceny, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and burglary.

During today’s change of plea hearing, Dodd pled guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.  At sentencing, Dodd faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.  Dodd remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

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