Man from Española pleads guilty to robbing restaurant and gas station on the Santa Clara Pueblo

            ALBUQUERQUE – Michael Duran, 33, of Española, N.M., and a member of the Ohkay Owingeh tribe, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on December 13 to robbing a restaurant and gas station on the Santa Clara Pueblo in October 2017. 

            Duran pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.  According to the information and other public court records, Duran robbed a gas station convenience store in Española on Oct. 1, 2017, by entering the business, pointing a gun at the store clerk, and demanding money from the cash register.  He got away with $50 in cash and several boxes of cigarettes. 

            On Oct. 16, 2017, Duran robbed a restaurant in Española.  He approached the walk-up order window and demanded money while pointing a firearm at a restaurant employee.  Duran fired his weapon into the business and fled the scene.  No one was injured.

            Duran is currently in custody awaiting sentencing.  He faces a sentence of 198 months in prison under the terms of his plea agreement. 

            The Northern Pueblo Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Espanola Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys David P. Cowen and Jennifer M. Rozzoni are prosecuting the case.