Jesse Barela, 35, of Albuquerque faces up to 20 years in prison after being found guilty by a federal jury for stealing hundreds of dollars of goods from a supermarket.
Barela and his brother Julian Barela, 50, were indicted after they entered an Albertson’s Supermarket in Albuquerque on Nov. 26, 2019. There, they had filled a shopping cart full of goods and left without paying.
A store employee who tried to stop them was accosted and attacked. Jesse Barela, according to the indictment, produced a firearm in front of the employee and Julian Barela proceeded to beat the employee several times with a baton, according to a release from the New Mexico Department of Justice. The Barelas were charged with interference with commerce by threats and violence.
Jesse Barela will remain in jail until sentencing. Julian Barela pleaded guilty in October. No information about his sentence was provided.
According to the New Mexico Department of Justice, the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI Violent Crime and Gangs Task Force. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico was prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque has a higher crime rate, ranking among the nation's 10 most dangerous cities, according to Safewise.
