Man from Las Cruces, N.M., charged with impersonating deputy U.S. Marshal

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Aaron Tyler Stroud, 38, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, made his initial appearance in federal court in Las Cruces on Wednesday on a criminal complaint charging him with impersonating an officer of the United States. 

            According to the complaint, Stroud allegedly committed the offense in Doña Ana County, N.M., on September 29, 2019.  He allegedly approached officers from the Las Cruces Police Department who were responding to a call from dispatch.  Stroud allegedly provided the officers with a false name and told them he was a member of the U.S. Marshals Service from the El Paso sector.  Stroud allegedly claimed he regularly patrolled the area.  He was allegedly wearing a t-shirt with “U.S. Marshal” written on it and carrying a gun, radio, and badge with a six-point star.   

            Stroud is currently in custody awaiting preliminary and detention hearings scheduled for October 7.   He faces up to three years in prison.  A criminal complaint is only an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

            The U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case with the FBI and Las Cruces Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joni Stahl of the Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.