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. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced today that Freddie Granger was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Granger, 42, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on March 20, 2023, to one count of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, one count of carjacking, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on June 9, 2022, Granger sold two firearms to an undercover agent with the ATF, one of which was an AR-style rifle, along with high-capacity magazines. Granger indicated to the undercover agent that he had been unlawfully selling firearms for a “long time” and he would be open to doing “package deals” in the future. At the time, Granger had been convicted of seven felonies including involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.  In his plea, Granger admitted that he knew that as a previously convicted felon he could not legally possess firearms or ammunition.

Days later, on June 13, 2022, an officer with the Carlsbad Police Department pulled Granger over because the car he was driving was missing a license plate and was swerving. Granger gave the officer false identification information before fleeing. Granger crashed his car near a marijuana dispensary, where he encountered John Doe as Doe was exiting his vehicle. Granger pointed a firearm at him, demanded his keys and took his vehicle after Doe safely removed a 7-year-old minor from the backseat.

When Granger was apprehended on July 8, 2023, he was still in possession of Doe’s car, which he had spray painted a different color.

Upon his release from prison, Granger will be subject to 5 years of supervised release.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal prosecuted the case.

# # #

23-111