Armed New Mexico career criminal charged with unlawfully possessing firearm

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A New Mexico man with a significant history of felony convictions was arraigned Monday on an indictment charging him with being a felon possessing a firearm and ammunition.

This case was investigated by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Joseph Ernest Purcella III, 34, from Albuquerque, entered a not-guilty plea during Monday’s arraignment hearing. He was arrested Oct. 30 on a criminal complaint alleging that he unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition in Sandoval County, New Mexico, April 7.  At the time he was arrested, Purcella had several felony convictions for aggravated battery, burglary, battery on a police officer, and trafficking and possessing a controlled substance.  Purcella was subsequently indicted Nov. 19 on the latest charges.

According to court documents, on April 7, officers of the Santa Ana Pueblo Police Department responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Santa Ana Star Casino.  Police arrested Purcella, who was identified as the alleged robber, on state charges filed by the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  The state charges were later dismissed after federal charges were filed against Purcella.

Purcella has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending trial, which has yet to be scheduled.  If convicted, Purcella faces an enhanced sentence of at least 15 years in federal prison due to his status as an armed career offender.

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, District of New Mexico, said that Purcella is being 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. The goal of this initiative is to remove repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible. 

U.S. Assistant Attorney Jacob A. Wishard, District of New Mexico, is prosecuting this case.