Las Cruces –
A teenager from Las Cruces faces charges in federal court for possessing a machine gun and a stolen firearm after authorities discovered Instagram posts that allegedly showed him with the illegal weapons.
Court documents reveal that on August 18, 2024, law enforcement became aware of an Instagram post featuring Jonathan Daniel Martinez, 18, an alleged member of the “East Side Locos” gang, holding a black handgun with its serial number visible. A subsequent check showed that the firearm had been reported stolen to the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) on April 14, 2024. The handgun was also equipped with an aftermarket machine gun conversion device (MCD), designed to convert the firearm into a fully automatic machine gun.
Further investigation into the Instagram account linked to Martinez uncovered several posts showing the same firearm, along with other firearms.
On September 15, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Martinez’s residence, where they found the stolen black Glock 19 handgun, complete with the Glock switch, in his bedroom.
Martinez will remain in custody until his trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted*, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the charges today, March 17, 2025.
The investigation was conducted by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department.
*A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Editor Note:
We realize this is not in Albuquerque. However, ABQRAW is reporting on this issue due to the frequent calls received by both the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office regarding the discharge of high-capacity firearms.
This is a federal case, hence the stricter penalty. If you read previous ABQRAW “Federal Corner” publications, we have mentioned that there is no parole in the federal system for crimes committed.
First rule of being a smart criminal which there are very few of and you’re not one of them.
1) When committing a crime, don’t do the police departments job of collecting evidence for them and then show everyone stupid.
Second rule of a smart criminal which there are very few of.
2) See rule #1 you brain dead idiot! LMFAO!!!
Let’s see if he stays in prison!
He won’t go to prison. He will become an informant for the police if he hasn’t already. He will rat on his friends and family for lesser crimes. He will help the police frame and setup people and they will go to prison and he won’t. Everybody blames the judges when it’s the cops that keep this informant system going because it’s a lot less work for them. Look at the MDC website of inmates released. Looked up the cases of the people who got arrested and released for drug possession, trafficking drugs, gun charges and murder. You will then notice many of the released inmates have two three and four drug possession charges. Somehow their released with pending first and second degree felony charges. First and second degree felonies have a 15 year mandatory prison sentence. Yet some of these inmates get out after being in jail one night. They don’t have to be reporting to anyone or have to be drug tested. Their just free and clear with all kinds of serious felony convictions and charges. Time to put a stop to this informant system. Look at our crime rate now it has tripled. The crimes are being committed by these informants because they know they will get away with it. Things definitely have to change.
@Ernie: You sound like you know….were you the rat or snake ?? Damn you had a lot to say….
Thanks for reporting this! This kid isn’t a kid at all. I hope he gets some real consequences for not only having the weapons, but being dumb enough to post it on instagram. Good grief!
Let’s be honest.
He won’t get any time at all.
And if we are being really honest or your fault. You morons keeps voting for the same mayor and same da and same judges. If you just read the article above about the recent motel 6 shutdown. There is what (5) murders listed, felons with guns, drug deal killings and everyone is out in 10 years.
This is all your own faults. You keep voting for the same people and then complain like retards about it. Stop voting strictly democrat all the time and maybe you’d get better results. Idiots
Do yourself a favor and go home…. or does everyone there hate you too?
That’s the problem I have. My wife’s boyfriend keeps kicking me out and he never let’s me watch anymore.
Duhhhh…I from Albuquerque
Me vote for same people then complain it no good
Duhhh ….i democrat
The dumbest people in America.
This is why Warren buffet / the richest man in the world tricked all of you, your idiot mayor and cfo into paying him 9mm dollars a year to create 300 part time jobs at 12.00 and hour.
Think about that – the city pays the balance of the wages. Buffett pays 3.6mm a year in wages – the city pays the difference so those people can scrape buy. And the business that Warren has generates about 60mm dollars a year in pure profits. You idiots are paying someone to steal money from you. There is no better example of stupidity then the people and leaders of Albuquerque
Give your mom her ipad back kid, it’s past your bedtime.
I hope a judge does NOT release this guy before his trial
Possession of an automatic weapon I’d a federal felony…..The Gun Control Act of 1968 and the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 govern the possession of machine guns and other regulated firearms. He should get 10 years in a federal pen