Grant County, N.M., Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and Ammunition as a Convicted Felon

ALBUQUERQUE – Rudy Portillo Sepulveda, Jr., 28, of Grant County, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to violating the federal firearms laws by being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. 

During today’s proceedings, Sepulveda pled guilty to an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  Sepulveda admitted that on March 30, 2018, a New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officer pulled him over because of an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and located a firearm and multiple rounds of ammunition in his vehicle.  In entering his guilty plea, Sepulveda acknowledged that he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of his prior felony convictions for aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer, possession of a controlled substance, and criminal damage to property.

Sepulveda faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.  He remains in custody awaiting sentencing at a later date. 

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI, the NMSP, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and the Silver City Police Department with assistance from the 6^th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.