NM man sentenced to 6 years in federal prison for violating federal firearms laws

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A New Mexico man was sentenced Wednesday to six years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for violating federal firearms laws.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case. 

Ramiro Saenz, 28, was arrested in September 2014 on a criminal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. According to the complaint, on Aug. 21, 2014, an officer with the Las Cruces Police Department recovered 1.6 grams of methamphetamine, a handgun and multiple rounds of ammunition from Saenz during a routine traffic stop. 

Saenz was subsequently indicted on the same charge Dec. 10, 2014.  The indictment indicated that Saenz was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been twice convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence.  On March 12, Saenz pleaded guilty to the charges in the indictment.

The Las Cruces Police Department assisted with this investigation.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy M. Castellano, District of New Mexico.