Las Cruces Felon Sentenced to 70 Months for Violating Federal Firearms Laws

ALBUQUERQUE – Jesse Antillon, Jr., 29, of Las Cruces, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating the federal firearms laws.  The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, and Chief Jaime Montoya of the Las Cruces Police Department.

Antillon was charged in a criminal complaint on July 13, 2014, with unlawfully possessing a firearm on Nov. 6, 2013, in Doña Ana County, N.M.  According to the complaint, Antillon was stopped by law enforcement on Nov. 6, 2013, based on an outstanding probation violation warrant, and was found to be in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Antillon was subsequently indicted on the same charge on March 24, 2015.  Antillon was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he had previously been convicted of numerous felony offenses, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, child abuse, aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon, possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, attempt to escape from a peace officer and battery upon a peace officer. 

On Sept. 11, 2015, Antillon pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of a stolen firearm.  In entering his guilty plea, Antillon admitted that on Nov. 6, 2013, he entered a vehicle and stole a handgun.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the Las Cruces Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy M. Castellano of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted 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 Doña Ana County, under this initiative.