Las Cruces man convicted of four armed robberies, faces 31 years to life in prison
Ruben Jose Trujillo, 39, was convicted of four armed robberies in Doña Ana County, including a Vado shooting. He faces 31 years to life in prison.
A federal jury found Ruben Jose Trujillo guilty of robbing businesses in Las Cruces and Vado, including a Family Dollar where he fired through a wall toward employees.
Organ Mountain News report
LAS CRUCES - A federal jury has convicted a 39-year-old Las Cruces man of four armed robberies in Doña Ana County, including an attack at a Vado Family Dollar store where he fired a bullet through a wall, narrowly missing an employee's head.
Ruben Jose Trujillo was found guilty following a weeklong trial on charges stemming from robberies at two Circle K convenience stores, a Subway restaurant and a Family Dollar store in October 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico.
Trujillo faces a mandatory minimum of 31 years and up to life in federal prison. His sentencing date has not been scheduled.
Four robberies in 24 days
Prosecutors presented evidence that Trujillo robbed two Circle K stores in Las Cruces on Oct. 5 and Oct. 21, 2024, pointing a firearm at employees and demanding cash.
On Oct. 27, he robbed a Subway restaurant in Las Cruces, again using a firearm to threaten an employee and demand money.
The following day, Trujillo broke through the glass front door of a Family Dollar store in Vado and pointed a handgun at two employees.
The employees fled into a room and locked the door, but Trujillo fired through the wall. The bullet narrowly missed one employee's head.
According to prosecutors, the employee suffered a burn mark near her eyebrow that lasted approximately two weeks. Investigators said the injury was caused by drywall fragments or possibly the bullet grazing her head at high speed.
Trujillo stole cash and a cash register drawer before fleeing the store.
Surveillance footage and forensic evidence
Investigators identified Trujillo using surveillance footage that showed distinctive tattoos, clothing and a noticeable limp.
Law enforcement officers arrested him at a Las Cruces residence Oct. 29, 2024. Searches of the residence and his vehicle uncovered a firearm, ammunition, a stolen cash register drawer and clothing matching what the robber had worn.
Forensic testing linked Trujillo to the firearm and established that the gun had fired the bullet recovered from the Family Dollar robbery.
Trujillo had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including unlawful possession of a firearm, and was prohibited from possessing guns.
Federal agents returned to the residence Dec. 4, 2024, to arrest Trujillo on a federal warrant. He fled on foot but was apprehended after a brief pursuit. He has remained in federal custody since then.
Convicted on nine federal counts
The jury convicted Trujillo of four counts of interference with commerce by robbery, four corresponding firearm offenses and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The firearm convictions included brandishing a gun during the robberies and discharging a firearm during the Vado robbery.
Following the verdict, the court ordered Trujillo to remain in federal custody pending sentencing.
The FBI's Las Cruces Resident Agency investigated the case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office and Las Cruces Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant Gardner and Richard Williams prosecuted the case.
