ALBUQUERQUE – Lane Michael Reed, 24, of Killeen, Texas, pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to armed robbery, carjacking and firearms charges arising out of a two-day violent crime spree in July 2017.  Reed entered the guilty plea under a plea agreement that recommends that he be sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson said Reed is being prosecuted as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat offenders for federal prosecution.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior criminal convictions for federal prosecution offenders with the goal of making communities in New Mexico safer places for people to live and work.

Reed was arrested in Aug. 2017, on a federal criminal complaint charging him with interfering with interstate commerce by robbery, taking a vehicle from another by force and violence, using, brandishing and discharging a firearm during crimes of violence, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  According to the criminal complaint, on the morning of July 25, 2017, Reed robbed a gas station and convenience store in San Jose, N.M., by brandishing a firearm at a clerk and a small child and taking money from the cash register.  Shortly thereafter, the storeowner entered the store and Reed brandished a firearm at the storeowner and robbed the storeowner of the keys to his vehicle and a firearm.  Reed then departed the store in the storeowner’s vehicle and soon encountered officers of the New Mexico State Police and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office who responded to a “be on the lookout” callout for Reed.  While driving on the frontage road to Interstate 25 and southbound on the Interstate and seeking to evade the officers, Reed discharged a firearm in the direction of the officers, some of whom returned fire.

Officers of the New Mexico State Police and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office arrested Reed without incident on Interstate 25 near Mile Post 247, on state charges filed by the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  Reed remained in state custody until he was transferred to federal custody on Aug. 28, 2017, to face the federal charges against him.

Reed was indicted on Sept. 21, 2017.  The seven-count indictment charged Reed with robbing a gas station and convenience store, a business engaged in interstate commerce, in Raton, N.M., on July 24, 2017 and brandishing a firearm during the robbery.  The indictment also charged Reed with robbing a gas station and convenience store, also a business engaged in interstate commerce, in San Jose, N.M., on July 25, 2017, and brandishing a firearm during that robbery.  It also charged Reed with carjacking a vehicle in San Miguel County on July 25, 2017, and discharging a firearm during that carjacking.  Finally, the indictment charged Reed with being a convicted felon unlawfully in possession of a firearm on July 24 and 25, 2017.

During today’s proceedings, Reed pled guilty to robbing the gas station and convenience store in San Miguel County and brandishing a firearm during the robbery, and to the carjacking charge.  In entering the guilty plea, Reed admitted that on July 25, 2017, he violated the Hobbs Act by entering the Pecos River Station convenience store, pointing a firearm at the store clerk, threatening her with a firearm, and demanding money and keys to a vehicle.  Reed also admitted confronting the storeowner, who was armed, and disarming the storeowner and taking his firearm and the keys to his vehicle.

In his plea agreement, Reed admitted that after robbing the Pecos River Station convenience store, he attempted to evade arrest by driving at speeds up to 140 miles an hour and discharged his firearm at the law enforcement officers who were pursuing him.  During the pursuit, Reed caused extensive damage to the vehicle he stole as well as extensive damage to the law enforcement vehicles that were pursuing him.

Reed has been in federal custody since his arrest in Aug. 2017.  He remains detained pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Santa Fe office of the FBI, the New Mexico State Police and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Kraehe is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Lane Michael Reed, 23, of Killeen, Texas, was arraigned today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., on a seven-count indictment charging him with armed robbery of businesses involved in interstate commerce, carjacking and firearms offenses arising out of an alleged crime spree occurring on July 24-25, 2017.  Reed entered a not guilty plea to the indictment and remains detained pending trial, which has yet to be scheduled.

 

Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney said Reed is being prosecuted as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

 

The indictment, which was filed on Sept. 21, 2017, charges Reed with armed robbery of two businesses involved in interstate commerce, carjacking, using, brandishing and discharging a firearm in relation to crimes of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  According to the indictment, Reed allegedly robbed a gas station and convenience store in Raton, N.M., on July 24, 2017, and allegedly brandished a firearm while committing that crime.  The indictment further alleges that Reed robbed a gas station and convenience store in San Jose, N.M., on July 25, 2017, and brandished a firearm while committing that crime.  The indictment also charges Reed with carjacking a pickup truck by brandishing a firearm at the vehicle’s owner on July 25, 2017, in San Miguel County, N.M., and with unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition on July 24, 2017 and July 25, 2017, in Colfax, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Sandoval Counties, N.M.  According to the indictment, Reed was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his previous felony conviction for residential burglary.

 

Reed was arrested in July 2017, based on a criminal complaint charging him with interfering with interstate commerce by robbery, taking a vehicle from another by force and violence, using, brandishing and discharging a firearm during crimes of violence, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.  According to the criminal complaint, on the morning of July 25, 2017, Reed allegedly robbed a gas station and convenience store in San Jose, N.M., by brandishing a firearm at a clerk and a small child and taking money from the cash register.  Shortly thereafter, the storeowner entered the store and Reed allegedly brandished a firearm at the storeowner and robbed the storeowner of the keys to his vehicle and a firearm.  Reed allegedly departed the store in the storeowner’s vehicle and soon encountered officers of the New Mexico State Police and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office who responded to a “be on the lookout” callout for Reed.  While driving on the frontage road to Interstate 25 and southbound on the Interstate and seeking to evade the officers, Reed allegedly discharged a firearm in the direction of the officers, some of whom returned fire.

 

Officers of the New Mexico State Police and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office arrested Reed without incident on Interstate 25 near Mile Post 247, on state charges filed by the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office.  Reed remained in state custody until he was transferred to federal custody on Aug. 28, 2017, to face the federal charges against him.

 

 If convicted of the charges in the indictment, Reed faces the following statutory maximum penalties:  20 years of imprisonment on the Hobbs Act robbery charges; 15 years of imprisonment on the carjacking charge; and ten years of imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Reed also faces the following statutory mandatory minimum penalties on three of the firearms charges:  seven years of imprisonment for brandishing a firearm in relation to the first robbery; 25 years of imprisonment for discharging a firearm in relation to the second robbery; and 25 years of imprisonment for brandishing a firearm in relation to the carjacking.  These sentences must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the Hobbs Act, carjacking and felon in possession of a firearm charges. 

 

Charges in criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

This case was investigated by the Santa Fe office of the FBI, the New Mexico State Police and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Kraehe is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Lane Michael Reed, 23, of Killeen, Texas, made his initial appearance today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., on a criminal complaint charging him with the armed robbery of a business involved in interstate commerce, carjacking and firearms offenses. During today’s proceedings, a U.S. Magistrate Judge determined that there was probable cause to support the charges against Reed, and ordered Reed detained pending trial based on findings that he poses a risk of flight and a danger to the community.

 

Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney, 4th Judicial District Attorney Richard Flores, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, New Mexico State Police Chief Peter N. Kassetas and Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert A. Garcia announced the federal charges against Reed, noting that the federal prosecution is being pursued as part of the federal “worst of the worst” anti-violence initiative. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior felony convictions for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

 

The criminal complaint charges Reed with interfering with interstate commerce by robbery, taking a vehicle from another by force and violence, using, brandishing and discharging a firearm during crimes of violence, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Reed allegedly committed this rash of crimes on July 25, 2017, in San Miguel County, N.M. At the time, Reed was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted on two felony offenses in the state of Texas.

 

According to the criminal complaint, on the morning of July 25, 2017, Reed allegedly robbed the Pecos River Station in San Jose, N.M., by brandishing a firearm at a clerk and a small child and taking money from the cash register. Shortly thereafter, the storeowner entered the store and Reed allegedly brandished a firearm at the storeowner and robbed the storeowner of the keys to his vehicle and a firearm. Reed allegedly departed the store in the storeowner’s vehicle and soon encountered officers of the New Mexico State Police and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office who responded to a “be on the lookout” callout for Reed. While driving on the frontage road to Interstate 25 and southbound on the Interstate and seeking to evade the officers, Reed allegedly discharged a firearm in the direction of the officers, some of whom returned fire.

 

Officers of the New Mexico State Police and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office arrested Reed without incident on Interstate 25 near Mile Post 247, and was charged with state offenses by the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Reed remained in state custody until he was transferred to federal custody yesterday to face the charges in the federal criminal complaint.

 

If convicted of the charges in the criminal complaint, Reed faces the following statutory maximum penalties: 20 years of imprisonment on the Hobbs Act robbery charge; 15 years of imprisonment on the carjacking charge; and ten years of imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition, Reed faces statutory mandatory penalties of seven years of imprisonment for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and ten years of imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the other charges. Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

This case was investigated by the Santa Fe office of the FBI, the New Mexico State Police and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Kraehe is prosecuting the case.