ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A man who admitted to helping carry out the murder of 13-year-old Michael Tubb last year will be sentenced this fall. Michael Flores pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy and evidence tampering charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Flores admitted to driving around with co-defendant Thomas Acee when shots were fired near 5th Street and Coal Avenue in August 2024. The gunfire killed Tubb, who was sitting in a car with other teens, and injured another passenger. Flores agreed to testify against Acee as part of a plea deal, but Acee died in jail in July before the case could proceed.
Thomas John Acee II, 21, was the son of veteran FBI Special Agent Bryan Acee, a federal agent known for leading high-profile cases against gangs like the Aryan Brotherhood and Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico.
Acee had a history of legal trouble in Albuquerque, including vandalism and weapons charges. In the Tubb case, prosecutors said Acee believed someone in the vehicle had previously robbed him and opened fire. A bullet struck Tubb, who later died from his injuries. Another teen was injured by bullet fragments.
Acee was charged with multiple felonies, including murder, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. He was being held in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center due to his father’s high-profile position. On July 23, 2025, Acee was found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead shortly after. The cause of death has not yet been released, and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
Tubb’s death stunned the community. He was just three weeks into the school year when he was killed. Advocates called for more trauma support for students, and Albuquerque Public Schools later sent counselors to his school.
Flores’s sentencing will mark a significant step in closing a case that has drawn widespread attention for both its tragedy and the involvement of a federal agent’s son.
