ATF Arrests Additional Suspects in Connection with Theft of New Mexico Explosives

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have arrested two more men in connection with the theft of 400 pounds of explosives from an ATF explosives licensee. The apprehensions of Joseph Mulnix, 29, and Robert Shaw, 40, at their respective homes in Bloomfield, N.M., brought to five the number of people arrested and charged in the case. ATF completed the recovery of all the stolen explosives, the largest reported heist of 2005, on Dec. 24. ATF agents took Leslie Brown, 44, into custody without incident Dec. 23 at his home in Ignacio, Colo., and later that day arrested Leslie Browns brother, David Kendrick Brown, 49, and Eric Wayne Armstrong, 32, in Bloomfield. We are confident that we have all the individuals responsible for the explosive theft in custody, said ATF Resident Agent in Charge Wayne Dixie. A federal grand jury in Albuquerque charged all five men Jan. 10 with some or all of the following violations of explosive and firearms laws: conspiracy to steal and possess explosive materials; theft of explosive materials that had moved in interstate commerce; theft of explosive materials from a permittee; possession of stolen explosives; felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of an unregistered firearm. ATF, which has jurisdiction for the investigation of explosives thefts, conducted the investigation with the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department, FBI and New Mexico State Police.