NM felon sentenced to more than 6 years for unlawfully possessing firearm, ammunition

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — A local man was sentenced July 7 in federal court to 80 months in prison – to be followed by three years of supervised release – for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. 

The sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Albuquerque Police Department (APD).

Francisco Roberto Esquibel, Jr., 34, was charged in a criminal complaint filed June 11, 2015, with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The complaint alleged that Esquibel unlawfully possessed a stolen firearm at his Albuquerque residence June 10, 2015. According to the complaint, APD officers found the firearm while arresting Esquibel on an outstanding warrant. 

Esquibel was subsequently indicted July 31, 2015. According to the indictment, Esquibel was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of numerous felony crimes, including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle, and possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Esquibel pleaded guilty to the indictment Feb. 11 without the benefit of a plea agreement. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Wishard prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.