ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A federal judge has sentenced Zachary Babitz to life in prison plus 26 years after he admitted to a violent, multi-city crime spree that included robberies, carjackings, and a fatal shooting.
Babitz pleaded guilty in April to all 13 counts contained in a federal indictment, avoiding a potential death penalty.
The case was highlighted by the August 2024 carjacking and killing of an 83-year-old man in the parking lot of a Best Buy in Santa Fe.
According to prosecutors, Babitz’s crime spree also included:
- Robbing an AutoZone in Albuquerque
- Robbing a Wells Fargo bank in Albuquerque
- Robbing a Jersey Mike’s restaurant
- Carjacking another victim in Bernalillo County
- Robbing an Arby’s restaurant in Las Cruces
After the Santa Fe killing, investigators say Babitz continued committing crimes across the state before being captured. Authorities located him after he crashed a stolen vehicle and attempted to hide inside a nearby dumpster.
As part of his plea agreement, Babitz admitted guilt to numerous federal offenses, including robbery, bank robbery, carjacking resulting in death, firearms violations, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The sentence effectively ensures Babitz will spend the rest of his life in federal prison.
