Courts

FBI: Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges For 2023 Crime Spree

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — An Albuquerque man has pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple robbery and firearms charges for a crime spree in the summer of 2023.

According to court records, between July 11, 2023, to Sept. 16, 2023, Demetrius Antonnie Bailey, 41, engaged in a series of armed robberies targeting retail stores in Albuquerque.

Bailey and his accomplice conspired to commit robberies at Harbor Freight Tools, multiple Metro by T-Mobile locations, a T-Mobile store, a Verizon store, and a JC Penney.

During these robberies, they threatened and overpowered store employees and security Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Overturns Convictions In Fatal Shooting In Doña Ana County

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court (NMSC) has reversed the convictions of a Doña Ana County woman for her role in an alleged murder-for-hire plot.

Cristal Cardenas was sentenced to life in prison for the 2018 murder of her ex-boyfriend, Mario Cabral, and 24 additional years for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder.

The jury acquitted Cardenas of one count of first-degree murder for the death of Cabral’s girlfriend, Vanessa Mora. The victims were found shot to death in their Doña Ana County home in 2018. 

Cabral and Cardenas Read More

FBI: Newcomb Man Sentenced For Role In Fatal Altercation

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Newcomb man was sentenced to three years of probation for his role in the death of an individual who died from a fatal stab wound during a drunken altercation. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, June 2, 2021, Leighton Spencer, 32, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and two other individuals were at Spencer’s home, consuming a mixture of Gatorade and hand sanitizer, followed by beers, when an altercation between the two other individuals occurred. After one person left to cool down and returned, they discovered the third Read More

Supreme Court Affirms Albuquerque Man’s Convictions For Murdering His Elderly Aunt

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The state Supreme Court Thursday upheld the convictions of an Albuquerque man for killing his 86-year-old aunt and stealing $98,000 from her.

The Court unanimously rejected arguments by Craig Talbert Smith that a trial court judge improperly denied motions for a mistrial after a juror became ill during deliberations and that he received ineffective legal assistance. A majority of the Court also concluded there was sufficient evidence for a conspiracy conviction, but Justice C. Shannon Bacon dissented from that holding.

Smith was sentenced to life in prison and an additional Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Trafficking And Firearms Charges … Forfeits Weapons, Vehicles, Cash

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — An Albuquerque man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking and firearms charges, agreeing to forfeit multiple weapons, vehicles and more than $64,000 in cash seized during a raid on his residence.

According to court records, March 23, 2023, the FBI SWAT team executed a search warrant at Jerry Bezie’s residence in the South Valley. During the operation, agents seized more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately 11,400 grams of fentanyl pills, multiple firearms, ammunition and other items indicative of drug trafficking activities.

In his plea agreement, Read More

Scam Alert: Fraudulent Arrest Warrants For Failure To Appear, Contempt Of Court Circulate In District Of NM

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COURT News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico has recently been notified of individuals being targeted with a variety of phone, text and email scams.

The targets have been contacted initially by phone or email by an individual claiming to be a member of local law enforcement. Emails often include an attached fraudulent Warrant for Arrest alleging the target failed to appear for either jury duty or as a witness for a grand jury.

Targets may be asked to meet the caller at the “federal bonding building” to pay a fine and post bond, or they may receive a series Read More

2025 60-Day Legislative Session Ends With Unfinished Public Safety Work As Las Cruces Mourns Shooting Victims

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From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE — At the conclusion of the 60-day legislative session Saturday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham acknowledged the passage of some public safety measures while emphasizing the urgent need for more action in light of Friday night’s mass shooting in Las Cruces that left three dead and at least 15 injured.

The governor has mobilized state resources to support local law enforcement in their investigation of this tragedy, which comes amid a disturbing 46 percent increase in violent crime in Las Cruces compared to last year. She said a special session is needed to Read More

New Mexico Governor Blasts AG, Lawmakers Over CYFD Oversight Agency

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Attorney General Raúl Torrez

By ESTEBAN CANDELARIA and DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican

As Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill Friday to create a new oversight office within the New Mexico Department of Justice to look into problems at the state’s troubled child welfare agency, she blasted Attorney General Raúl Torrez and the Legislature over the measure.

Throughout the session, the Lujan Grisham administration expressed concerns about the proposed Office of Child Advocate, arguing the oversight of the Children, Youth and Families Department was welcome but that House Bill Read More

Governor: Legislature Should Expect Special Session In Wake Of Mass Shooting

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, right, speaks to media about the deadly mass shooting in Las Cruces, with Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, left, in the governor’s Cabinet room at the Roundhouse on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Photo by Michael G. Seamans/The New Mexican

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks to media about the deadly mass shooting in Las Cruces in the governor’s Cabinet room at the Roundhouse on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Photo by Michael G. Seamans/The New Mexican

By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican

After a mass shooting the night before at a park in Las Cruces, a visibly angry governor said Read More

Ringside Seat: Senate Defunds DA On Claims Of Incompetence

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By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican

State Sen. George Muñoz claims criminals roam unchecked in his hometown of Gallup because of a prosecutor’s ineptitude.

“The district attorney has no employees. We have over 600 cases there that are not getting heard,” Muñoz told fellow senators this week during debate on the state budget.

His solution is to cut McKinley County District Attorney Bernadine Martin’s budget by 94%, or $3.88 million. Muñoz, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, shifted the money to the district attorney of neighboring San Juan County.

If Muñoz’s proposal Read More