U.S. Attorney Announces Sentencing of Albuquerque Man for Series of Armed Robberies

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for committing a series of brazen armed robberies across Albuquerque in the span of just five days while on supervised release for a previous federal conviction.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, in 2020, Brandon Sanchez, 30, was charged federally for being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 27 months’ incarceration. During his subsequent term of supervised release, Sanchez committed the following robberies in Albuquerque over a five-day period in 2023:

• January 4, 2023: Shortly before 11:00 am, Sanchez entered the Little Caesar's restaurant at Montgomery and San Pedro in northeast Albuquerque. Handing an employee a note indicating he was armed, Sanchez demanded everything within five minutes, making off with approximately $60.
• January 4, 2023: Minutes later, Sanchez struck again at a nearby Subway at San Mateo and McLeod, threatening the cashier with an apparent firearm and leaving with $91 in cash.
• January 8, 2023: Just after 1:00 pm, Sanchez targeted the Little Caesar's at Montano and Fourth in northwest Albuquerque, drawing an apparent firearm and escaping with $100.
• January 9, 2023: Sanchez entered the Starbucks at San Mateo and Pan American around 9:00 am. He handed an employee a note, lifted his shirt to reveal an apparent firearm, and left with $100. A quick-thinking employee captured a photo of the getaway vehicle's temporary plate.
• January 9, 2023: At approximately 3:45 pm, Sanchez robbed the Big 5 Sporting Goods at Wyoming and Paseo del Norte, flashing an apparent firearm and taking $200.
• January 9, 2023: Just 15 minutes later, Sanchez robbed the Domino's restaurant at Holly and San Pedro, brandishing an apparent firearm and fleeing with $75.

Law enforcement connected Sanchez to the string of robberies after reviewing surveillance footage from Big 5 Sporting Goods that provided a clear view of his face. On January 10, 2023, the Albuquerque Police Department tracked Sanchez to a Motel 6 on Pan American and executed a search warrant. Inside his room, authorities discovered a black Glock magazine, 17 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a demand note, a black wig, a toy BB gun, and two flannel shirts matching descriptions from the robberies.

Upon his release from prison, Sanchez will be subject to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and Albuquerque Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico prosecuted the case.

January 4, 2023: Brandon Sanchez robs the Subway at San Mateo and McLeod

January 4, 2023: Brandon Sanchez robs the Subway at San Mateo and McLeod

January 4, 2023: Brandon Sanchez robs the Subway at San Mateo and McLeod

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