Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Violating Federal Firearms Laws Relating to June 2016 Armed Bank Robbery

ALBUQUERQUE – Jason Blackwood, 46, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in relation to a June 2016, armed bank robbery.

Blackwood was arrested on June 1, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with the armed bank robbery of the Bank of the West located at 780 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE in Albuquerque.  According to the complaint, Blackwood entered the bank, pointed a handgun at a bank teller, and demanded money.  After the bank teller responded to Blackwood’s demand for money, Blackwood left the bank. 

Blackwood subsequently was indicted on June 30, 2016, and was charged with armed bank robbery, using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  According to the indictment, Blackwood committed the three crimes on June 1, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  At the time, Blackwood was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of robbery and second degree commercial burglary.

On June 28, 2018, Blackwood pled guilty to using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  In entering the guilty plea, Blackwood admitted that on June 1, 2016, he entered the Bank of the West in Albuquerque, approached a bank teller’s window, pointed a firearm at the bank teller and demanded money.  Blackwood further admitted that he continued to point the firearm at the bank teller after receiving an amount of money and demanded that the bank teller give him more money.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers prosecuted the case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat 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 for federal prosecution violent or repeat offenders with the goal of making communities in New Mexico safer places for people to live and work.