A Shiprock resident has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a loaded shotgun. The sentencing was announced by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office.
According to court documents, Crandall Craig Martin, 42, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, stole a loaded firearm on August 10, 2022. He intended to trade the weapon for alcohol or money to purchase alcohol. As Martin had previous felony and misdemeanor convictions related to domestic violence, he was legally prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition.
Martin pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Following his release from prison, he will be placed under supervised release for three years.
The investigation was conducted by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with support from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones.
"There is no parole in the federal system," officials stated.
