Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has announced that two Second Judicial District Court judges independently granted the Attorney General’s motion to preventatively detain two dangerous serial shoplifters; Marvin Alderete and Ashley Roybal.

Alderete was indicted June 13 on 31 charges related to shoplifting, conspiracy and aggravated assaults of store staff and personnel. Alderete faces more than 40 years of potential incarceration if convicted at trial.

Roybal faces more than 18 years of potential incarceration on multiple felony charges of conspiracy and shoplifting. 

“Holding these defendants in custody is the right decision, and my office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep violent offenders off the street to ensure the safety of New Mexico residents,” Attorney General Balderas said.

In a spree of shopliftings from 2021 to 2022, Alderete and Roybal participated in a dozen separate shoplifting incidents at Albuquerque big box stores, resulting in thousands of dollars worth of losses for these businesses.

In several incidents, Alderete fought both with loss prevention officers and concerned citizens and frequently brandished a firearm while shoplifting.

This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the emerging Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Task Force. The investigation involved the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General and asset protection personnel from the retail community. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Peter Valencia.