Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Federal Firearm Offenses

ALBUQUERQUE – Albuquerque man sentenced to 66 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges arising from the armed robbery of a Federal Firearms Licensee in Albuquerque in 2022.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on April 29, 2022, special agents from the ATF were notified of an armed robbery that occurred the previous day at the Big 5 Sporting Goods Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) located at 2720 San Mateo Blvd. NE in Albuquerque.

According to employees, Dawayne Yates, 53, entered the store and requested to inspect a rifle. After confirming his identity, an employee handed Yates a Ruger Mini-14 rifle. Yates then pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the employee, and demanded another rifle. Fearing for her life, the employee gave Yates an Dickinson, model XX3D-M-2, 12-gauge shotgun.

Yates stole both firearms, placing them in a gun case he took from the store, and fled in a vehicle with no license plate.

Fingerprint evidence from the crime scene matched Yates. A victim identified him from a photo lineup. On May 2nd, Yates was arrested at a local motel, where police recovered:

• A 9mm Taurus pistol matching the description of the gun used in the robbery
• A .22 caliber Remington rifle
• Ammunition
• Body armor
• Suspected fentanyl pills

The stolen firearms from Big 5 were not recovered. Yates has prior felony convictions prohibiting him from possessing firearms or ammunition.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Yates will be required to serve five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Patrick E. Cordova prosecuted the case.

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