Armed Career Offender Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Prison for Violating Federal Firearms Laws

Thompson Prosecuted as Part of “Worst of the Worst” Anti-Violence Initiative

ALBUQUERQUE – Alfonso Thompson, 38, of Albuquerque, N.M.., was sentenced today in federal court to 15 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for being an armed career offender.  The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Kari E. Brandenburg and Special Agent in Charge Thomas Atteberry of the Phoenix Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Chief Gorden Eden of the Albuquerque Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said that Thompson was prosecuted as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

Thompson was federally indicted on Nov. 27, 2012, and subsequently arrested in Dec. 2012 for unlawfully possessing a handgun and ammunition in Bernalillo County, N.M., on July 12, 2012.  According to court filings, Thompson was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition in July 2012 because he was a convicted felon.  Despite numerous prior felony convictions, Thompson possessed thirteen firearms and approximately 474 rounds of ammunition in July 2012.

Thompson entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on Jan. 14, 2014.  Thompson received an enhanced sentence of 15 years in prison due to his status as an armed career offender.

Thompson’s criminal history consists of nine convictions, including seven felony convictions, accumulated since 1997, of which three were drug-related, five involved violence (including two for attempted murder), and four involved the presence of a firearm.  Thompson currently is facing charges in state court for a double homicide and the non-fatal shooting of a third victim.  Thompson has entered a not guilty plea in the state case and is presumed innocent of those charges unless found guilty in a court of law.

Thompson’s federal conviction in this case arose from facts separate from his pending state charges.  If Thompson is convicted on the pending state charges, any sentence imposed on Thompson in the state case must be served consecutive to the sentence imposed in this federal case.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF, the Albuquerque Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Paige Messec of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.