Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that an Anchorage man has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline to serve 126 months in prison for his role in robbing a local business with a stolen assault rifle.
Miguel J. Batista, 28, previously pled guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and to brandishing and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. As part of his guilty plea, Batista admitted that he twice stole assault rifles from the Eagle River Walmart, ultimately stealing nine total rifles. He then used one of those assault rifles to rob Party Time Liquor Store in Anchorage.
According to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Bennett, who prosecuted the case, Batista pointed the assault rifle at several people inside the store and made a cashier give him the money from the registers. After leaving the store, he went around to the back of the building and pointed the gun at another employee. He made the employee hand over his cell phone and car keys and then drove away in the employee’s car.
During the sentencing hearing, the government noted that Batista had a great impact on this community by unleashing a number of assault rifles, stealing from businesses, and terrifying six individuals by pointing his assault rifle at them.
Judge Beistline stated that Batista had made his own problems the problems of this community. He also noted the terrible impact that Batista had on the life of the cashier by robbing her at gunpoint. In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Beistline focused on the seriousness of the offenses but also spoke of the need for people like Batista - an admitted drug user - to get treatment for their addiction.
U.S. Attorney Loeffler commended the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD), who investigated the case. Since 2007, the Municipality of Anchorage has partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to address drug and violent crime issues within the city. Ms. Bennett is a municipal prosecutor assigned to prosecute drug and violent crime cases in federal court.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
