We were hoping that this was coming after the five suspects were released two days ago over a technicality, and here it is – the FBI has arrested them all on weapons charges.
BREAKING: FBI arrests 5 residents of New Mexico compound on firearms allegations.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 31, 2018
#BREAKING via @AP: FBI arrests 5 residents of New Mexico compound on firearms allegations.
— CBS 13 News (@WGME) August 31, 2018
From KRWG:
The FBI has arrested five residents of a compound in Amalia, in Taos County, N.M. (Amalia Compound), on a federal criminal complaint charging them with violating the federal firearms and conspiracy laws. The arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson and Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division.
The defendants, Jany Leveille, 35, a Haitian national illegally present in the United States, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 40, Hujrah Wahhaj, 37, Subhanah Wahhaj, 35, and Lucas Morton, 40, are charged in a criminal complaint that was filed earlier today in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. The criminal complaint charges Jany Leveille with being an alien unlawfully in possession of firearms and ammunition in the District of New Mexico from Nov. 2017 through Aug. 2018. The criminal complaint charges the other four defendants with aiding and abetting Leveille in committing the offense, and with conspiring with Leveille to commit the offense.
According to the criminal complaint, on Aug. 3, 2018, law enforcement officers of the Taos County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at the Amalia Compound, where the five defendants were residing, and allegedly seized at least eleven firearms and a large quantity of ammunition. The complaint alleges that the firearms were transported from Georgia and/or Alabama to New Mexico in Leveille’s vehicle.
Here’s what they face:
If convicted of the charge against her, Leveille faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment and deportation upon completion of her sentence. If convicted of aiding and abetting Leveille, Leveille’s co-defendants each face a statutory maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment. If convicted on the conspiracy charge, the five defendants each face a statutory penalty of five years of imprisonment. Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
It kinda sounds like prosecutors screwed up their case locally so they had to go the feds. At least it appears that there will be some justice in this very bizarre case.
UPDATE: