Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Hobbs Act in Case Arising Out of Armed Robbery of Albuquerque Businesses Involved in Interstate Commerce

ALBUQUERQUE – Reyes Lujan, 27, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court to violating the Hobbs Act, by participating in the armed robbery of a Walmart Store in Albuquerque on Oct. 29, 2014.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Reyes Lujan will be sentenced to 71 months in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Reyes Lujan was arrested on Feb. 9, 2015, on an indictment charging him and five co-defendants with violating the Hobbs Act by robbing a business engaged in interstate commerce and firearms charges.  Count 1 of the indictment charged Reyes Lujan and five other Albuquerque residents, Raymond Castillo, 26, Daniel Maestas, 35, Johnny Ramirez, 30, Frank Gallegos, 30, and Henry Lujan, 22, with conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act.  Count 2 charged the six men with interfering with interstate commerce by robbing a Wal-Mart Store in Bernalillo County, N.M., on Oct. 29, 2014.  Count 3 charged Castillo with brandishing a firearm during the robbery of the Wal-Mart store, and Count 4 charges Maestas with using and carrying a firearm during that robbery.  Count 5 charged Ramirez, Gallegos, Reyes Lujan and Henry Lujan with aiding and abetting the use of firearms during the robbery.

The indictment was subsequently superseded in May 2015, by adding a new defendant, Reynaldo Marquez, 25, of Albuquerque, and two new counts.  The new Count 6 charged Castillo and Marquez with interfering with interstate commerce by robbing a 7-11 convenience store located in Bernalillo County on Dec. 7, 2014.  The new Count 7 charges Marquez with discharging a firearm during that robbery.

During today’s change of plea hearing, Reyes Lujan entered a guilty plea to Count 2 of the superseding indictment charging a violation of the Hobbs Act.  According to the plea agreement, Reyes Lujan and his co-defendants planned the Oct. 29, 2014, robbery of the Walmart Store located at 400 Eubank NE in Albuquerque.  Reyes Lujan, who was not armed, was dropped off outside of the store to act as a “lookout” in the parking lot while two of his co-defendants went inside the Walmart Store and stole a rolling safe.

Reyes Lujan’s six co-defendants have entered pleas of not guilty to the superseding indictment.   Charges in indictments are merely accusations, and all criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States has agreed to separate trials for Counts 1 through 5 of the superseding indictment and Counts 6 and 7.

If convicted on Counts 1 and 2, the conspiracy charge and the first Hobbs Act charge, the defendants each face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  A conviction on Counts 4 and 5, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence or aiding and abetting the use of a firearm, each carries a mandatory five-year prison sentence which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the conspiracy and Hobbs Act charges.  If Castillo is found to be a career offender and convicted after trial on Count 3 of the superseding indictment, he faces an enhanced sentence of prison term of 360 months to life imprisonment.

Castillo and Marquez each face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years if convicted on Count 6 of the superseding indictment.  If convicted of discharging a firearm as charged in Count 7, Marquez faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on him for a conviction on Count 6.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Norman Cairns and Samuel A. Hurtado are prosecuting this case.

This case is being 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. In recognition that New Mexico’s violent crime rates, on a per capita basis, are amongst the highest in the nation, New Mexico’s law enforcement community has come together to is collaborating the initiative is significantly exceed the national average.