Nathaniel Eddie Madrid, 40, of Carlsbad, was sentenced this morning in federal court in Las Cruces to 57 months in prison for violating the federal firearms laws by unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition.
Madrid will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.
Madrid, whose prior criminal history includes felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, breaking and entering, armed robbery with a deadly weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, was prosecuted under a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution.
Madrid was arrested April 18, 2016, on charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and possession of a firearm not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) in Lincoln County. According to the complaint, law enforcement officers recovered three firearms, ammunition, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia from Madrid’s vehicle. A search of the NFRTR also revealed Madrid did not have any firearms registered in his name.
Madrid was subsequently indicted Aug. 17, 2016. According to the indictment, Madrid was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his status as a convicted felon. Court documents indicate that Madrid was on probation for a conviction for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition when he was arrested.
On Jan. 12, 2017, Madrid pleaded guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Mexico State Police.
