A Deming man, Wilfrido Saenz, has been sentenced to 39 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The sentencing was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on April 21, 2024, when deputies from the Catron County Sheriff's Office stopped a vehicle driven by Saenz. During the traffic stop, deputies discovered a hypodermic needle with methamphetamine residue on Saenz's person. A search of his vehicle revealed a loaded handgun in the center console.
Saenz admitted to knowingly possessing the firearm and ammunition despite being prohibited due to his status as a convicted felon. He was previously under supervised release following a federal conviction for transporting illegal aliens.
Upon completion of his prison term, Saenz will face two years of supervised release. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with support from the Catron County Sheriff's Office and United States Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson R. Hehr is prosecuting the case.