U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez | U.S. Department of Justice
A Las Cruces teenager, Jonathan Daniel Martinez, is facing federal charges for possessing a machine gun and a stolen firearm. The charges follow the discovery of Instagram posts that allegedly show him with the illegal weapons.
Court documents reveal that on August 18, 2024, law enforcement became aware of an Instagram post depicting Martinez, 18, who is alleged to be a member of the "East Side Locos" gang. The post showed him holding a black handgun with a visible serial number. A check revealed that this firearm had been reported stolen to the Las Cruces Police Department on April 14, 2024. The handgun was equipped with an aftermarket attachment known as a machinegun conversion device (MCD), which converts it into a fully automatic machine gun.
Further investigation into Martinez's Instagram account uncovered multiple posts featuring the same and other firearms. A search warrant executed at Martinez's residence on September 15, 2024, led to the discovery of the stolen black Glock 19 handgun with the Glock switch attached in his bedroom.
Martinez remains in custody pending trial, which has yet to be scheduled. If convicted on these charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office.
The case was investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
