Casaus Prosecuted as Part of “Worst of the Worst" Anti-Violence Initiative
ALBUQUERQUE - Steve Casaus, 43, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Kari E. Brandenburg, Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso, Texas, and Chief Gorden Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD).
Casaus was charged in a criminal complaint on April 25, 2014, with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition on April 21, 2014, in Bernalillo County, N.M. According to the criminal complaint, Casaus was arrested after APD officers after they observed what they believed to be a drug deal, and based on an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear on a pending state court case. The complaint alleged that at the time of his arrest, Casaus was in possession of $20,790.00 in cash, 1.3 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm loaded with six rounds of ammunition.
Casaus was subsequently indicted on June 11, 2014, and charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition on April 21, 2014, in Bernalillo County. Casaus was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior felony convictions of disarming a peace officer, aggravated battery on a peace officer, trafficking by possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.
The federal prosecution of Casaus was stayed during the pendency of unrelated state court proceedings. Casaus was arrested on the federal charge in Jan. 2016, after he was transferred into federal custody from state custody.
During today’s change of plea hearing, Casaus pled guilty to the indictment. The guilty plea was entered without the benefit of a plea agreement.
At sentencing, Casaus faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison. Casaus remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations and APD, with assistance from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Walsh is prosecuting the case.
The case is being prosecuted as part of the federal “worst of the worst" anti-violence initiative. 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 primarily based on their prior felony convictions 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
