Albuquerque Felon Charged with Unlawfully Possessing Firearm and Ammunition

ALBUQUERQUE – This morning Morris Mora, 29, of Albuquerque, N.M., made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Mora remains in federal custody pending an arraignment hearing and detention hearing, both of which are scheduled for Sept. 12, 2017.

Mora is being prosecuted under 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 primarily based on their prior criminal convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

The indictment against Mora alleges that Mora unlawfully possessed a firearm and ammunition in Bernalillo County, N.M., on March 8, 2017. At the time, Mora was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior felony convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault on a peach officer with a deadly weapon, and aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer.

Court records reflect that officers of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) arrested Mora on state charges, including a related firearms charge, in the North Valley of Albuquerque on March 8, 2017. Mora was arrested on the federal charge in the indictment today after he was transferred to federal custody from state custody. The related state firearms charge will be dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.

If convicted on the charge in the federal charge in the indictment, Mora faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and APD, with assistance from the 2^nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard R. Thomas is prosecuting the case.