ABQ Times

A federal jury in Albuquerque has found Anthony A. Hernandez guilty of illegal firearm possession. The verdict came after a two-day trial and over two hours of deliberation.

Court documents and evidence revealed that on October 26, 2021, officers from the Albuquerque Police Department responded to a ShotSpotter alert and a 911 call about a man with a firearm near an apartment complex. Officers identified Hernandez, 31, as the suspect based on witness descriptions.

During their investigation, officers discovered a purple and black 9mm pistol hidden at the scene where Hernandez was seen. A spent shell casing was also found nearby. Witnesses confirmed Hernandez as the individual with the firearm, which had been reported stolen.

Hernandez, previously convicted of armed robbery, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to his felon status. Following the guilty verdict, he remains in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces up to ten years in prison without parole under federal law.

Additionally, Hernandez is indicted for assaulting a federal officer in November 2022 while detained at Cibola County Correctional Center related to this firearms case. This trial is set for later this year.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF conducted the investigation alongside the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Kimberly Bell are prosecuting the case.