ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)), published as received.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jose Alfredo Morales, 30, of La Union, New Mexico, was charged today in federal court with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Morales will remain in custody pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on May 15 officers from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported assault involving strangulation at a residence in La Union. The officers obtained a warrant to search the residence in which they allegedly found multiple rounds of ammunition.
On May 19, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a federal search warrant for the home, of which Morales is the sole resident, and allegedly located multiple rounds of ammunition.
Morales has prior felony convictions, including for shooting at or from a motor vehicle, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery upon a peace officer. As a convicted felon, Morales cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Morales faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.
