Alexander M.M. Uballez U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico
An Albuquerque man has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The sentencing follows an incident at Adam Food Market in Albuquerque, where the man was found brandishing a handgun during an argument.
Court documents reveal that on January 24, 2024, officers from the Albuquerque Police Department responded to reports of a man with a handgun at the market on Central Avenue. Surveillance footage captured much of the incident, showing Arthur Steven Stewart retrieving a small pistol and pointing it at another individual who had produced a knife. Officers apprehended Stewart at the scene and recovered a loaded pistol from his pocket.
Stewart was on probation for a previous robbery conviction with a firearm enhancement. He initially claimed he found the gun on the street and intended to return it to its owner. Upon release from prison, Stewart will be subject to two years of supervised release.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. The case was investigated by the Albuquerque Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Haynes is prosecuting as part of an agreement with the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
This agreement allows Assistant District Attorneys to serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) in federal cases, prioritizing charges against those driving violence in Albuquerque. Since 2020, nearly 3,000 cases have been reviewed under this program, resulting in over 300 federal charges.
The United States Attorney’s Office has similar agreements with other state agencies and plans to expand this program throughout New Mexico.
