FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office have announced that Myles Delando Luciano made an initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with interference with commerce by threats or violence.

Luciano, 26, of Las Cruces, will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for Sept. 9.

According to the complaint, Luciano and Joshua Lopez, 25, also of Las Cruces, allegedly attempted to walk out of a Lowes Home Improvement Store July 27 with an air conditioner without paying for the item. When two store employees and an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agent tried to stop them, Luciano allegedly pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the employees and fled in a vehicle. It was later discovered that the pistol was a pellet gun.

Las Cruces Police (LCPD) officers located the vehicle and attempted to stop Luciano and Lopez. Luciano and Lopez allegedly led LCPD on a high-speed chase, ending in a parking lot on Telshor Boulevard in Las Cruces. The pellet gun was located inside the vehicle.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Luciano faces up to 20 years in prison.

Lopez, also charged in the complaint, has an outstanding arrest warrant in connection with this case. Anyone with knowledge of Lopez’s whereabout can provide information at 1-800-CALL FBI.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from LCPD. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ryan Ellison are prosecuting the case.