New Mexico man caught impersonating US Marshal sentenced

A New Mexico man, who was convicted of impersonating a United States marshal, was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison this week.

Aaron Michael Stroud, of Las Cruces, received an 8-month, 12-day sentence in federal court for false representation of a government officer or employee, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported.

Once Stroud is released, he must serve a two-year term of supervised release, the newspaper reported.

Stroud was arrested Sept. 29, 2019, after he claimed to be a U.S. Marshal and carried a radio, false badge and holstered firearm, the Sun-News reported.

Before his arrest, Stroud confronted three people who were having an argument. Stroud identified himself as a law enforcement officer and pointed his gun at the group, threatening to shoot if they did not stop, the Sun-News reported.

A Las Cruces police officer saw the confrontation and investigated. According to police, Stroud gave the officer the name of a U.S. marshal who works out of the El Paso, Texas, office.

After an investigation, Stroud was arrested, the Sun-News reported.

It is not the first time Stroud had been caught impersonating a law enforcement officer. Court records show that in July 2003, Stroud was arrested on state charges of impersonating a public officer and unlawful carrying of a firearm in a licensed liquor establishment. Both offenses were fourth-degree felonies, the Sun-News reported in 2019.