Date: 07-19-2018

Case Style:

Case Number: 1:17-cr-02569-WJ-1

Judge: William P. Johnson

Court: United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (Bernalillo County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: George C. Kraehe

Defendant's Attorney: Eric Hannum

Description: Albuquerque, NM - Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Arising out of Northern New Mexico Violent Crime Spree in July 2017 - Plea Agreement Recommends 25-Year Prison Sentence

Lane Michael Reed, 24, of Killeen, Texas, pled guilty on July 19, 2018 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.

Counts:

18:1951(a): Interference with Interstate Commerce by Robbery and Violence
(1)
18:924(c): Using, Carrying, Possessing, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence and Possessing, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm in Furtherance of Such Crime
(2)
18:1951(a): Interference with Interstate Commerce by Robbery and Violence
(3)
18:924(c): Using, Carrying, Possessing, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence and Possessing, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm in Furtherance of Such Crime
(4)
18:2119(2): Carjacking
(5)
18:924(c): Using, Carrying, Possessing, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence and Possessing, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm in Furtherance of Such Crime
(6)
18:922(g)(1): Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition
(7)

Outcome: Guilty

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Defendant's Experts:

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