ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Claiming that he had information about Albuquerque’s West Mesa Murders, Matthew James Cerno – a Grants, New Mexico resident – began contacting the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After several years of phone calls and interviews, Cerno eventually received the work cell phone number for an unnamed FBI Agent, this would lead to Cerno’s arrest. Cerno is now facing five years in prison for allegedly threatening the FBI Agent.
On February 23, 2018, Cerno called the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office. He claimed to have information about the West Mesa Murders which were discovered in 2009; taking his claim seriously, the FBI interviewed Cerno.
In October of 2021, Cerno called the FBI again, he wanted to follow up on the complaint he made years earlier. The FBI spoke with Cerno over the phone, interviewing him again about the information he may have about the West Mesa Murders.
Not wanting to let too much time pass, Cerno called the FBI one more time on November 20, 2021, he claimed to have additional information about the West Mesa Murders. This time, the FBI took his cell number and had an unnamed FBI Agent call Cerno, according to the Department of Justice, the statements Cerno gave were similar to the ones he had made in the past.
Cerno continued to contact the FBI Agent on his work cellphone through the end of the year. The phone calls began increasing in volume. Each time, the FBI agent informed Cerno to contact the FBI call center.
On January 28, Cerno’s calls became violent. According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, four voicemail messages were allegedly left on the FBI Agent’s work cellphone by Cerno, “Threatening that he would drug, rape, and direct the beating of the agent, and that the agent’s FBI badge would not save him.”
Cereno is currently in federal custody on the charge of making threats of violence against a federal law enforcement officer. Cerno will remain in custody at least until a detention hearing is held. The information in this story came from a criminal complaint, which is only an allegation. All defendants are considered innocent until found guilty in a court of law. United States Attorney Tavo Hall is prosecuting this case.