ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Elias Gallegos was sentenced to more than 4 years in prison. A federal jury convicted Gallegos, 27, of Albuquerque, on October 25, 2022, of assaulting a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon.
According to court documents, Gallegos assaulted a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier on Sept. 17, 2021, as the letter carrier was delivering mail on foot near the corner of Constitution Avenue NE and Monroe St. NE in Albuquerque. Gallegos brandished a knife at the letter carrier, chased him, and then threw a rock at him, which missed.
The letter carrier returned to his mail truck and called 911. As Albuquerque police responded to the scene and attempted to approach Gallegos, Gallegos fled on foot. Gallegos jumped several residential backyard fences before police contained him to a shed in the backyard of a residence on Manzano Street. When Gallegos attempted to approach the back door of the residence, officers apprehended him. During a search of the shed where Gallegos had been hiding, officers found a torch lighter and the pocketknife used in the assault.
“The men and women of the U.S. Postal Service brave our streets daily in service of the public,” said United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez. “When those streets level senseless threats, the United States will protect the federal employees who serve our nation and hold accountable those who plague our community with violence.”
“Today’s sentencing of Elias Gallegos shows the determination of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with their law enforcement partners, to vigorously pursue and bring criminals to justice who attempt to commit crimes or harm any postal employee” stated Melisa Llosa, Inspector in Charge of the USPIS Phoenix Division.
Upon his release from prison, Gallegos will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel A. Hurtado and Patrick Cordova prosecuted the case.