Silver City Felon Pleads Guilty to Series of Violent Crimes

ALBUQUERQUE - A Silver City man pleaded guilty in federal court to a series of crimes committed between June 2024 and March 2025 that escalated from unlawful firearm possession to armed robbery and a violent carjacking.

According to court documents, on June 25, 2024, Silver City police officers responded to a residence following reports that Dominic Carbajal, 26, was possibly armed. Carbajal was detained and during a subsequent search, officers found a loaded magazine in his pocket and recovered a stolen pistol loaded with a 32-round magazine. Carbajal, a convicted felon, later admitted he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Roughly seven months later, on January 22, 2025, officers responded to an armed robbery at a local nutrition store. Surveillance video showed Carbajal selecting merchandise and leaving without paying. When the store owner attempted to stop the theft, Carbajal brandished a handgun and ordered the owner to back away before fleeing with the stolen items. Carbajal later admitted using the threat of the firearm to complete the theft.

On March 23, 2025, Carbajal committed a violent carjacking in a remote parking lot. According to court records, Carbajal approached a man sitting in a pickup truck, demanded the keys, and repeatedly struck the victim with his fists and a metal bar or pipe when the victim refused. The victim suffered head injuries and was bleeding during the assault. Carbajal then threatened to shoot the victim, causing him to surrender his truck and personal property, including his wallet, phone, and jewelry. Carbajal later admitted that he intended to cause serious bodily injury in order to obtain the vehicle.

Officers later tracked the stolen vehicle to a residence where Carbajal was reportedly seen. As officers attempted to arrest him, Carbajal allegedly released two pit bulls to attack law enforcement and fled on foot, discarding his clothing as he ran. He was ultimately subdued with a Taser and taken into custody. Officers reported signs of opioid intoxication, and Carbajal allegedly admitted he had used "powder" when asked if he had taken fentanyl.

Carbajal pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by threats or violence, being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, and carjacking and faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Silver City Police Department and Grant County Sheriff's Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Dickens is prosecuting the case.