Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Armed Robbery Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Martin Huerta, 43, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty this morning in federal court to an armed bank robbery charge.  The guilty plea was entered without the benefit of a plea agreement.

Huerta was arrested in March 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him and four co-defendants, Greg Miera, 50, Christian Herrera, 20, Isaiah Gallegos, 20, and Christopher Gallegos, 31, all of Albuquerque, with bank robbery.  According to the complaint, a source identified the co-defendants as the individuals involved in robbing the US Bank branch located at 5620 Wyoming Blvd. NE in Albuquerque, on March 30, 2016.  The complaint alleged that Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers conducted surveillance as a vehicle with four men pulled up to the US Bank on the afternoon of March 30, 2016.  The complaint further alleged that three of the men remained outside in the vehicle while the fourth entered the US Bank, threatened to shoot the bank employees, and demanded that two bank tellers place cash into a plastic bag. 

Huerta, Miera, Herrera, Isaiah Gallegos and Christopher Gallegos were subsequently indicted on an armed bank robbery charge on April 27, 2016.

During today’s proceedings, Huerta entered a guilty plea to the indictment.  At sentencing, Huerta faces a statutory maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Huerta remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Huerta’s four co-defendants have entered pleas of not guilty to the indictment.  Charges in complaints and indictments are merely accusations.  All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case.