A federal jury has convicted an Albuquerque man, Anthony Hernandez, of assaulting a federal officer at the Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, New Mexico. The conviction followed a three-day trial that ended with just over two hours of jury deliberation.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, the incident occurred on November 15, 2022. Hernandez, who was in custody awaiting trial for a federal firearms offense, attacked a security consultant contracted by CoreCivic. The company manages and operates the Cibola County Correctional Center. The assault took place during a routine inspection of Hernandez's cell.
Surveillance footage showed Hernandez pushing open his unlocked cell door and launching an unprovoked attack on the victim. The security consultant suffered cuts, bruises, a concussion, and a broken nose that required surgery.
Following the verdict, the court ordered that Hernandez remain in custody pending sentencing. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled but could result in up to 20 years in prison for Hernandez. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hernandez was also previously convicted by a federal jury in October 2024 for being a felon in possession of a firearm in an unrelated offense. Additionally, he is under indictment for another assault on a federal officer that allegedly took place in March 2023 while he was held at the Otero County Prison Facility.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and United States Marshal David Barnett. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Kimberly Bell are prosecuting the case.