Felon, who Allegedly Possessed Eight Firearms, is being Prosecuted Pursuant to Federal “Worst of the Worst" Anti-Violence Initiative
ALBUQUERQUE - Jason Blackwood, 42, of Albuquerque, N.M., made his initial appearance in federal court this morning on a criminal complaint charging him with violating the federal firearms laws. Blackwood remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for July 13, 2015.
The federal charges against Blackwood were announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Thomas G. Atteberry of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III.
Blackwood was arrested this morning on a criminal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of an unregistered saw-off shotgun, and using and carrying firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Blackburn is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he previously was convicted on a robbery in a California state court.
The complaint alleges that on June 22, 2015, deputies of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) executed a search warrant at Blackwood’s residence in the northeast heights of Albuquerque. During the search, the deputies seized five firearms, including a sawed off shotgun with no serial number, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. They also seized approximately 41 grams of heroin, two grams of methamphetamine, and narcotics paraphernalia. Also on June 22, 2015, the BCSO also searched a storage unit allegedly used by Blackwood. From the storage unit, the deputies seized three more firearms.
If convicted for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition or possession of a sawed-off shotgun, Blackwood faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in prison. If convicted for using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Blackwood faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison which must be served consecutive to the sentence imposed on other charges. Charges in criminal complaints are mere accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the ATF office in Albuquerque and BCSO with assistance from the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shammara H. Henderson is prosecuting the case.
This case 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 with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible. Because New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community is collaborating to target repeat offenders from counties with the highest violent crime rates, including Bernalillo County, under this initiative.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
