ALBUQUERQUE MAN SENTENCED AFTER LASER STRIKES SHERIFF’S HELICOPTER MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — August 14, 2026 — An Albuquerque man has been sentenced to four months in federal prison after repeatedly aiming a green laser at a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, striking the cockpit more than a dozen times and temporarily impairing the pilot’s vision.

Jorge Pinon Armendariz, 48, was also sentenced to two years of supervised release following his imprisonment. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole.

Armendariz pleaded guilty on June 23, 2026, to aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 39A.

According to public court documents, the incident occurred on October 7, 2025, as the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Metro 1 helicopter flew over Albuquerque while assisting ground operations.

Armendariz directed the laser at the aircraft from two separate locations. The beam struck the cockpit more than a dozen times and repeatedly hit the pilot in the eyes as the helicopter remained airborne.

The crew used the aircraft’s onboard camera system to trace the beam to a vehicle in the McDonald’s drive-thru near Candelaria Road and Eubank Boulevard. The laser was later tracked to a nearby residence.

Armendariz continued directing the beam at Metro 1 as the helicopter approached his location. The repeated strikes endangered the pilot, the remaining crew members, and members of the public on the ground.

The pilot experienced momentary flash blindness and developed blind spots that continued for approximately 10 to 15 minutes after the laser strikes. The pilot also reported eye irritation and light sensitivity.

The physical effects continued after the flight. The pilot experienced migraine headaches lasting approximately 30 to 36 hours, along with continued irritation to the eyes.

Ground deputies responding to the residence observed a man and a woman outside. The man, later identified as Armendariz, entered the residence and then fled. Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies subsequently identified him as the person responsible for repeatedly directing the laser at Metro 1.

At the time of the helicopter incident, Armendariz had an active state warrant for violating conditions of pretrial release. The underlying state case allegedly involved receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. Those state accusations remain separate from the federal laser conviction.

Federal prosecutors initially charged Armendariz in April 2026. He pleaded guilty approximately two months later and has now received a custodial sentence followed by federal supervision.

Federal Aviation Administration information cited when the charge was announced showed that New Mexico recorded the second-highest number of reported laser incidents per capita during 2024 and 2025. Only Washington, D.C., recorded a higher per-capita rate during that period.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and FBI Albuquerque Field Office Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris announced the sentence.

The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jena Ritchey is prosecuting the case.

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