Defendant Prosecuted Under Federal “Worst of the Worst" Anti-Violence Initiative
ALBUQUERQUE -Jeremias Robertson, 26, of Albuquerque, N.M., made his initial appearance in federal court this morning on a criminal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Robertson remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing and detention hearing, both of which are scheduled for Sept. 12, 2017.
The criminal complaint alleges that the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) arrested Robertson on Aug. 18, 2017, after he allegedly brandished a loaded firearm at an APD officer. According to the criminal complaint, the officer had been dispatched to downtown Albuquerque in response to calls reporting that a man was pointing a firearm at people in the area. When the officer arrived in the area, he observed Robertson holding a firearm. When the officer ordered Robertson to drop the firearm, he allegedly pointed the firearm at the officer. After Robertson allegedly continued to disregard the officer’s commands and brandished the firearm at the officer, the officer shot Robertson. After Robertson was arrested, APD recovered the firearm, which allegedly was loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.
Robertson was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition on Aug. 18, 2017, because of his previous felony conviction for aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm out of a state court in Wisconsin. If convicted of the charge in the criminal complaint, Robertson faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and APD and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Thomas. The case is being prosecuted under 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 primarily based on their prior criminal convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
