District of New Mexico
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Alamogordo firefighter facing charges of child exploitationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jason Ross-Lattion Fleming, 36, of Piñon, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court on Apr. 25 facing charges of providing child pornography to a minor, possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor. Fleming will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for April 28.
According to a criminal complaint, from January 2021 to March 2021, Fleming engaged in sexual contact with a nine-year-old child while she was visiting her father in New Mexico. At various times during his contact with the child, Fleming allegedly exposed himself to the child and provided her access to pornographic videos on his cellphone, including child pornography. Fleming allegedly offered the child Reese’s candy to entice her to engage in sexual acts.
On Dec. 9, 2021, New Mexico State Police (NMSP) executed a search warrant and seized two cellphones from Fleming. On April 18, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) obtained and executed a federal warrant to search the contents of Fleming’s phones. Investigators allegedly found child pornography on Fleming’s personal cellphone.
Fleming was a firefighter in Alamogordo, New Mexico, at the time of the alleged offenses. The City of Alamogordo has terminated his employment.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Fleming faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison for providing child pornography to a minor, up to 20 years in prison for possession of child pornography, and a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor.
HSI investigated this case with assistance from NMSP, the Las Cruces Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Woman sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for second-degree murder and intentional child abuse for death of infantRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Sophia Zayas, 40, was sentenced in federal court on April 19 to 30 years in prison for charges relating to the 2007 death of her infant daughter. On Aug. 4, 2021, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict on one count of second-degree murder, one count of intentional child abuse resulting in death, four counts of intentional abuse resulting in great bodily harm and two counts of intentional child abuse not resulting in great bodily harm.
On Feb. 19, 2014, her husband, Peter Zayas, 37, pleaded guilty to negligent child abuse resulting in great bodily harm. In his plea agreement, Peter Zayas admitted that between August 16, 2007, and Oct. 22, 2007, he permitted his infant to be in a situation that endangered her life knowing that there was a foreseeable risk that she would be physically harmed or killed by leaving her in the care of Sophia Zayas, knowing that she had a history of alcohol abuse. At the time of the offenses, Peter Zayas was a sergeant with the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base. On Oct. 2, 2018, Peter Zayas was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The infant sustained fractures to her skull, ribs, and radius and ulna as a result of the abuse. Physicians testified that the child's injuries stemmed from multiple blunt force trauma that was the result of abusive behavior. The jury heard testimony that Sophia Zayas’s daughter died as the result of an axonal injury in her brain and that the injury was caused by a blow to the head. Additionally, the jury heard testimony that Sophia Zayas had a serious drinking problem, that she was the only steward for the infant on the day of her death, and that the baby suffered numerous abusive incidents in her short life.
Previously, Sophia Zayas pleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2014, to negligent child abuse resulting in great bodily harm. However, in November of 2015, her counsel filed a motion to withdraw her guilty plea, asserting that her plea was not knowing and voluntary following a change in the relevant child abuse law. The district court denied that motion on Feb. 8, 2017. On Sept. 27, 2018, she was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but successfully appealed the district court’s decision to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. On Feb. 6, 2020, the Tenth Circuit remanded the case back to the district court with instructions to vacate her guilty plea.
The FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo and Christopher S. McNair is prosecuting the case.
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Albuquerque investment broker pleads guilty to mail and wire fraud and failure to file tax returnsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Richard Kessler, 50, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on April 18 in federal court to one count each of mail fraud and wire fraud and four counts of failure to file tax returns.
Kessler was a financial advisor and investment broker who did business as Guardian Group Investments, LLC. According to the plea agreement and other court records, Kessler used his position to induce several individuals to entrust their retirement savings to him. During the period from February to August 2016, Kessler fraudulently convinced four victims to entrust him with a total of $121,267. Although Kessler had represented that he would place that money in retirement accounts for the benefit of those individuals, Kessler instead deposited their funds in his business bank account, which is specifically prohibited by New Mexico securities regulations. Kessler subsequently converted the victims’ retirement funds to his own purposes. Kessler used the fraudulently obtained money to pay for his personal expenditures and to make payments to earlier victims of his scheme. In his plea agreement, Kessler admitted that he devised and executed this scheme with the intent to defraud the investors.
Kessler failed to file federal income tax returns for tax years 2014 through 2017. Kessler’s failure to file tax returns and pay federal income taxes resulted in an aggregate tax liability of $82,627 for those four years, not including any penalties or interest.
Kessler faces up to 44 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy S. Vasquez is prosecuting the case.
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Man from Mescalero pleads guilty to federal cyberstalking chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Jayvian Chee, 19, of Mescalero, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 15 to Cyberstalking. Chee is currently out of custody awaiting sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on Nov. 28, 2021, Chee cyberstalked a minor victim, identified as Jane Doe. Chee harassed Jane Doe by sending her numerous threatening messages from multiple Instagram accounts Chee created. Chee threatened to distribute sexually explicit material of Jane Doe if she did not continue their romantic relationship.
By the terms of the plea agreement, Chee faces five years of probation.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Matilda McCarthy Villalobos is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Man from Albuquerque pleads guilty to federal fraud and stolen mail chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Luke Trujillo, 27, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 11 to one count of conspiracy, one count of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of being in possession of stolen mail. Trujillo is currently in custody awaiting sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
Trujillo and co-defendant, Jose Machado, 37, of Albuquerque, were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 22, 2019. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, from Feb. 9, 2015, to Jan. 18, 2016, Trujillo and Machado used stolen mail and documents containing sensitive information to obtain counterfeit identification and create bank accounts under assumed names in Albuquerque. During the scheme, Trujillo and Machado also used the stolen identities of victims to apply for lines of credit and to add themselves as “secondary users” to victims’ accounts to control and access the accounts. Using the fraudulent credit and debit cards, Trujillo and Machado spent over $7,000 on merchandise from several stores.
Trujillo faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy and possession of stolen mail, up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud, and a not less than two years for aggravated identity theft that must run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment.
Machado pleaded guilty on Oct. 21, 2020. Machado was sentenced on April 8, 2021, to three years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release upon his release from prison.
The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley is prosecuting the case.
Man from Mescalero accused of sexually abusing a child in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Dexter Whiskers, 43, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, made an initial appearance in federal court today facing a charge of sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. Whiskers will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for April 20.
According to a criminal complaint, in October 2021, Whiskers, then a Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Officer, allegedly engaged in and attempted to engage in a sexual act with a victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was 13 years old. The incident allegedly took place at the residence where Jane Doe lived at the time on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Otero County, New Mexico.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Whiskers faces up to 15 years in prison.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police and the full cooperation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Matilda McCarthy Villalobos is prosecuting the case.
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Acoma Pueblo man pleads guilty to failure to update sex offender registrationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Eric Chino, 39, of Albuquerque, and an enrolled member of the Acoma Pueblo, pleaded guilty today in federal court to failing to update his registration as a sex offender. Chino will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Chino on April 14, 2021. According to the plea agreement and other court records, Chino pleaded guilty on March 12, 2015, to sexually assaulting an Acoma Pueblo woman on June 24, 2012, on the Acoma Pueblo in Cibola County, New Mexico. On June 17, 2015, Chino was sentenced to three years in prison. His sentence also required him to register as a sex offender.
In his plea agreement today, Chino acknowledged that he was aware of the requirement to register as a sex offender. Chino admitted that from Oct. 26, 2019, through Jan. 5, 2021, he failed to update his registration as required by law.
By the terms of the plea agreement, Chino faces 15 months in prison.
The United States Marshals Service investigated this case with assistance from U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services. Special Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea N. Van Deventer is prosecuting the case.
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Man from Belen sentenced to five years in federal prison for carjacking and illegal possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Michael Deherrera, 26, of Belen, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court on April 11 to five years in prison for carjacking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Deherrera was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 29, 2020. According to the plea agreement, on Feb. 3, 2020, DeHerrera carjacked a victim by threating her with a screwdriver in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. DeHerrera began to drive away with the victim still in the car, causing her to jump from the moving vehicle to escape. DeHerrera also admitted that on Feb. 18, 2020, he possessed a firearm before attempting to dispose of it by throwing it from the window of a moving vehicle.
At the time DeHerrera possessed the firearm, he had a prior felony conviction for armed robbery. As a convicted felon, DeHerrera could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fredrick T. Mendenhall is prosecuting the case.
Jemez Pueblo man sentenced to five years in federal prison for child sexual abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alan Madalena, 33, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Jemez, was sentenced in federal court today to five years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. Madalena pleaded guilty on Oct. 7, 2021.
A federal grand jury indicted Madalena on Dec. 2, 2020. According to the plea and other court records, on four occasions between Aug. 1, 2020, and Oct. 15, 2020, Madalena sexually abuse the victim in his residence on the Pueblo of Jemez. The victim, who is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Jemez, was 15 years old at the time. Madalena knew the victim’s age when he committed the sexual abuse.
Upon his release from prison, Madalena will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jemez Pueblo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Elisa Dimas prosecuted the case.
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U.S. citizen arrested in Honduras convicted of federal fraud and conspiracy chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal jury on April 7 returned a guilty verdict on Bruce Beckner, 59, for one count of bank fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud. Beckner will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
Beckner was indicted on June 24, 2015, along with co-defendant Arthur Herlihy, 73, of Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2007, Beckner recruited Herlihy to join him in developing a business plan and securing financing to renovate a truck stop in Deming, New Mexico.
On July 7, 2009, Beckner and Herlihy obtained a loan for $135,165 from First New Mexico Bank. The stated purpose of the loan was to pay off a prior loan secured by a liquor license, and Beckner and Herlihy pledged the liquor license as collateral for the new loan as part of the transaction. At the time it received the loan from First New Mexico Bank, the truck stop business did not own the liquor license outright, but still owed money to the broker who financed the earlier liquor license transaction, which occurred in December 2008. Herlihy and Beckner falsely represented to the bank that the liquor license would be held free and clear of any liens or lawsuits. Beckner also signed the transaction documents using an alias, “Bill Evans,” and submitted an inaccurate personal financial statement to the bank concealing outstanding restitution debt he owed as the result of a prior criminal conviction in the late 1990s. Rather than pay off the license, Beckner and Herlihy used the loan for other expenses and the license remained encumbered to the previous loan. In 2011, the truck stop business defaulted on the loan from First New Mexico Bank.
On Oct. 2, 2009, Beckner and Herlihy obtained over $16 million in loans for Fuel4Less, LLC, through the New Mexico Finance Authority, including $12 million from Virtual Realty Enterprises and $4 million from U.S. Bank Development Corporation. Beckner signed several documents associated with the loan under the false name “Bill Evans,” representing himself as facilities and operating manager of Fuel4Less. Beckner also submitted a false résumé under the name “Bill Evans” that omitted material information and claimed experience and previous employment he did not have. These loans also went into default in 2011, after which a New Mexico state judge turned the business over to a court-appointed receiver, who filed a bankruptcy petition.
Beckner and Herlihy solicited money from various investors purportedly to be used in a “fuel factoring opportunity.” This opportunity, they told investors, would involve one component of the enterprise purchasing fuel from outside suppliers that would then be sold back to another component at a higher price, and the profits from the internal sales would be shared by the investors. Instead, there were no internal sales, and the investments, some of which were sent by wire transfers, were used to repay other investors or to cover various operational expenses, including Becker’s and Herlihy’s salaries.
Beckner and Herlihy sent investors promissory notes and other documents stating their investments were secured by truck stop assets. They did not tell investors that the pre-existing loans made the promissory notes essentially worthless.
Herlihy pled guilty in Feb. 2017, to making a false statement to a bank on a loan document, and was sentenced on Aug. 11, 2017, to three years of supervised release.
Beckner was arrested by the Honduras Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on March 7, 2019, at the San Pedro Sula airport in Honduras. At the time of his arrest, Beckner had been residing on Roatan, Honduras, for several years. Honduras approved his extradition on April 11, 2019, and he was transferred into U.S. custody on April 16, 2019.
Beckner faces up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud, up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and up to 30 years in prison for conspiracy.
HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Special Investigations Division of the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean J. Sullivan and Taylor F. Hartstein are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, HSI Honduras TCIU, and the HSI ICE Country Attaché in Honduras assisted with the extradition.
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Santa Clara man in federal court to face child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Michael Rivera, 31, of Santa Clara, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court today facing charges of production of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor. Rivera will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for April 12.
According to a criminal complaint, a few days before March 23, 2021, Rivera allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a victim who was 12 years old at the time. Rivera allegedly began to request naked images of the victim. On Jan. 19, investigators seized the victim’s cell phone and conducted a forensic examination. The examination allegedly revealed sexually explicit images and videos of the victim.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Rivera faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison for production of child pornography and a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for coercion and enticement.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating this case with assistance from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Navajo man pleads guilty to federal assault and firearm chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Michael Shebala, 37, of To'hajiilee, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 5 to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and one count of carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Shebala is currently in custody awaiting sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
Shebala was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 25, 2021. According to the plea agreement, on Feb. 18, 2021, Shebala shot a victim, identified in court records as John Doe 1, in the chest outside a gas station on the Laguna Pueblo. Due to Shebala’s assault, John Doe 1 required emergency and extended medical care for the injuries sustained to his liver.
On March 5, 2021, Shebala shot a second victim, John Doe 2, in the leg and then assaulted him using a baseball bat. Due to the assault, the victim required emergency medical care for the gunshot wound and fractures sustained to his skull, femur and arm. The assault occurred on the Navajo Nation.
Shebala faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The FBI Albuquerque Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Police Department, Navajo Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fredrick T. Mendenhall is prosecuting the case.
Las Cruces man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Armando Abel Gonzalez, 40, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court today to 20 years in prison for production of child pornography. Gonzalez pleaded guilty on March 17, 2020.
According to court records, on Sept. 9, 2019, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a cyber tip from the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office that had been received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In his plea agreement, Gonzalez admitted that on June 3, 2019, he used Facebook to chat with Clarissa Chavez, 31, of Las Cruces, and that he produced and sent pornographic video of a 10-year-old victim to Chavez.
On Sept. 3, 2020, Chavez pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography. In her plea agreement, Chavez admitted to using Facebook to chat with Gonzalez and that on June 10, 2019, she received a video from Gonzalez depicting a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct with an adult. On Jan. 12, 2021, Chavez was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison.
Upon their release from prison, Gonzalez and Chavez will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and must register as sex offenders.
HSI investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Marisa A. Ong prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Gallup man pleads guilty to abusive sexual contact with a child in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Armando Segovia, 32, of Gallup, New Mexico, pleaded guilty today in federal court to abusive sexual contact with a child in Indian Country. Segovia must surrender to the U.S. Marshals by noon, April 13. He will be held in detention pending final sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Segovia on April 14, 2021. According to the plea agreement and other court records, between July 1, 2016, and Nov. 1, 2016, Segovia, who is non-Indian, allegedly engaged in sexual contact with the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe. The victim, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, was less than 12 years old at the time of the abuse. Segovia committed the abuse in McKinley County, New Mexico, on the Zuni Pueblo.
Segovia faces up to life in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Gallup Police Department investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Van Deventer is prosecuting the case.
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Roswell escrow manager arraigned on charges of wire fraud and illegal transactionsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Christopher Adam Jensen-Tanner, 43, of Roswell, New Mexico, was arraigned in federal court today on a 38-count indictment charging him with 34 counts of wire fraud and four counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Jensen-Tanner is subject to conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Jensen-Tanner on March 8. According to the indictment and other court records, Jensen-Tanner allegedly used his position and access as owner and president of Roswell Escrow Services, Inc. (RES) to fraudulently redirect customer funds for his personal benefit.
RES served both as a qualified intermediary and as a servicer for real estate contracts. As a qualified intermediary, RES held proceeds from property sales in trust for clients for a period of up to 180 days, during which time the clients could use the funds to purchase a like-in-kind property and not incur capital gains. As a real estate contract servicer, RES received monthly payments from property buyers, taking a portion of the payment to cover insurance, property taxes, and fees. Ordinarily, such funds would be segregated through numerous bank accounts based on the nature and purpose of the funds, and occasionally further delineated by individual clients.
On or before Jan. 11, 2017, Jensen-Tanner allegedly began commingling funds within the RES corporate accounts by moving funds held in trust to operating accounts and vice-versa, contrary to established best practices of the industry. From around Jan. 11, 2017, to Oct. 23, 2019, Jensen-Tanner allegedly made several personal purchases for himself directly from RES corporate accounts. During that same period, Jensen-Tanner allegedly transferred funds from RES corporate accounts at Wells Fargo bank to a holding account for Wells Fargo certified funds tied to Wells Fargo cashier's checks. Jensen-Tanner then allegedly transferred those certified funds to pay for personal expenses, either directly or via his personal checking account.
The extent of the fraud was in excess of $2 million.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Jensen-Tanner faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and up to 10 years in prison for each count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this case with assistance from the Securities and Financial Institutions Divisions of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Ry Ellison and Richard Williams are prosecuting the case.
The FBI is seeking other potential fraud victims in this case. Anyone who was a customer of RES and believes they were the victim of fraud is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or go online to tips.fbi.gov.
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Navajo man arraigned for child sexual abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Leonard Yazzie, 39, of Pine Hill, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arraigned in federal court today on a charge of aggravated sexual abuse of a child in Indian Country. Yazzie will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for April 7.
A federal grand jury indicted Yazzie on March 23. According to the indictment, on March 28, 2016, and March 27, 2017, Yazzie allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a victim, identified as Jane Doe. At the time, Jane Doe was under 12 years old. The abuse is alleged to have occurred on the Ramah Navajo Reservation.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Yazzie faces a minimum of 30 years and up to life in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah Navajo Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea N. Van Deventer is prosecuting the case.
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Man from Albuquerque sentenced to seven years in federal prison for attempted carjacking and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunitionRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – James Hawley, 36, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court today to seven years in prison for attempted carjacking and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Hawley pleaded guilty on Aug. 9, 2021. According to the plea agreement, on July 27, 2019, Hawley attempted to carjack a victim who was stopped at an intersection in Albuquerque. Hawley approached the vehicle and pointed a firearm at the victim in an attempt to gain access. The victim was able to escape by speeding through the intersection. Hawley was later found unconscious and was disarmed by paramedics while they attempted to render aid.
At the time of the offenses, Hawley previously had been convicted of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery on a household member with great bodily harm. As a convicted felon, Hawley could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Upon his release from prison, Hawley will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Trembley is prosecuting the case.
Shiprock woman arraigned for assaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Faith Nicholle Sullivan, 27, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arraigned in federal court on April 1 on a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. Sullivan will remain in custody pending trial.
A federal grand jury indicted Sullivan on Oct. 14, 2021. According to the indictment and other court records, on June 8, 2021, Sullivan allegedly assaulted a Navajo Police Officer with a knife. The alleged assault occurred at Sullivan’s residence in Shiprock on the Navajo Nation.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Sullivan faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation and the Navajo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
San Felipe woman arraigned for assault on a childRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Salina Nicole Sandoval, 29, of San Felipe, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the San Felipe Pueblo, was arraigned in federal court on April 1 on a charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury of a child under the age of 18. Sandoval is out of custody on conditions of release.
A federal grand jury indicted Sandoval on March 23. As alleged in the indictment, on Jan. 21, Sandoval assaulted a child, identified as Jane Doe, who is also an enrolled member of the San Felipe Pueblo. The alleged assault occurred at Sandoval’s home in Sandoval County, New Mexico, on the San Felipe Pueblo.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Sandoval faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
Kenyan national arraigned on wire fraud chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Oscar Kipikirui Ngeno, 41, was arraigned in federal court on March 30 on an indictment charging him with ten counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. Ngeno will remain on conditions of release pending trial.
A federal grand jury indicted Ngeno on Feb. 24. According to the indictment and other court records, from October through December of 2019 Ngeno, a citizen of Kenya who was present in New York on an immigrant visa, allegedly engaged in a scheme to deceive and defraud the government of Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
As alleged in the indictment, Bernalillo County received an email intended to appear to come from a legitimate vendor, CDW Government Inc., which had provided products and services to the county for which payment was due. The spoofed email included a completed automated clearinghouse (ACH) form used by Bernalillo County to establish or change automated payments electronically to vendor bank accounts. The email also included an image of a voided check showing the same routing and account numbers listed on the ACH form. The email provided a telephone number that was represented as a contact number for CDW, but actually belonged to Ngeno.
The routing and account number provided caused the county to send payments to an account owned and controlled by Ngeno. Between October and December of 2019, the county sent payments totaling $447,372.89 to Ngeno’s account. Ngeno then allegedly distributed a portion of the funds to his co-conspirators, including by issuing checks totaling $98,930.
“As our technologies and banking systems evolve, so do the strategies of thieves and fraudsters,” said Fred J. Federici, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. “For this reason, we continue to encourage heightened vigilance with respect to unsolicited email requests. The responsibility for these crimes rests entirely with the perpetrators. However, we can each do our part by taking every precaution, such as scrutinizing email addresses and verifying contact information. We will do our part by prosecuting those who attempt to deceive our citizens and institutions.”
“When governments are victimized by fraud, especially one as large as what Bernalillo County experienced, taxpayers and residents are the ones who can get cheated,” said Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “The FBI will use all its resources to go after those who would steal funds that could provide critical services like public safety and health care. We also want to reiterate the importance of government agencies and businesses learning as much as they can about internet fraud and how to protect themselves.”
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Ngeno faces up to 20 years in prison for each count.
The Albuquerque Field Office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Buffalo Field Office and the Rochester Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Taylor Hartstein is prosecuting the case.
Former Los Lunas High School coach arraigned on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Johnathon Bindues, 30, of Los Lunas, New Mexico, was arraigned in federal court on March 30 on a nine-count indictment charging him with one count of coercion and enticement of a minor and eight counts of production of child pornography.
A federal grand jury indicted Bindues on March 23. According to court records, at the time of the alleged offenses, Bindues was the coach for the girls’ basketball and track teams at Los Lunas High School. The victim, identified as Jane Doe, was a freshman and a member of the teams Bindues coached.
Between September 2020 and June 2021, the defendant allegedly exchanged over 17,000 text messages with the victim. Bindues allegedly requested nude images of Jane Doe and encouraged her to delete the text messages immediately. After discovering sexually explicit messages on her daughter’s phone, Jane Doe’s mother reported the relationship to the New Mexico State Police.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Bindues faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for coercion and enticement and a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison for production of child pornography, and Bindues would be subject to registration as a sex offender.
The FBI and New Mexico State Police investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Jaymie L. Roybal and Alexander M. Uballez are prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque man appears in court on bank robbery chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ronald Lopez, 29, of Albuquerque, made an initial appearance in federal court on March 30 facing a charge of bank robbery. Lopez will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for April 1.
According to a criminal complaint, on March 25, Lopez allegedly entered the Rio Grande Credit Union on Rio Bravo Boulevard in Albuquerque wearing a fur-lined coat and a face mask. Lopez allegedly approached a teller and presented a demand note indicating he had a gun. Lopez then allegedly fled in a silver van.
Later that day, investigators located the van at Lopez’s residence, and Lopez was arrested.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Lopez faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Violent Crime and Gang Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito is prosecuting the case.
Dulce man facing charges of child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Joel Ruiz, 60, of Dulce, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court on March 29 facing two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child under 12. Ruiz will remain in custody pending an arraignment and detention hearing scheduled for March 31.
A federal grand jury indicted Ruiz on March 8. According to the two-count indictment, between Feb. 13, 2013, and Feb. 13, 2016, Ruiz, who is non-Indian, allegedly sexually abused an Indian child who was less than 12-years old. Between Jan. 27, 2016, and Jan. 27, 2020, Ruiz allegedly sexually abused another Indian child who also was younger than 12. The abuse in both counts allegedly took place on the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Ruiz faces a minimum of 30 years and up to life in prison.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea N. Van Deventer is prosecuting the case.
Deming man facing federal child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – James Dooly Pollock, 37, of Deming, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court on March 24 facing charges of production of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. Pollock will remain in custody until the case is resolved.
According to a criminal complaint, on Dec 30, 2021, the father of a 14-year-old victim submitted his daughter’s cell phone to the Truth or Consequences Police Department (TCPD) and reported that the cell phone contained videos of an adult male having sex with the victim. After obtaining the father’s permission and a search warrant, TCPD transferred the cell phone to New Mexico State Police (NMSP) for extraction of the phone’s contents.
The complaint alleges that the phone contained eight videos of Pollock engaging in sexual conduct with the victim. Four of the videos were sent from Pollock to the victim and the other four from the victim to Pollock. The phone also allegedly contained messages between Pollock and the victim reflecting an intimate relationship.
According to the complaint, the victim was reported missing at the beginning of January. On March 1, law enforcement located the victim, who was with Pollock in Truth or Consequences.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Pollock faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison for each of the eight counts in the complaint.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), NMSP and TCPD investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.
Arizona man pleads guilty to perjuring himself during trial for transporting individuals for prostitutionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – John Dompierre, 58, of Avondale, Arizona, pleaded guilty on March 28 in federal court to perjury.
On Sept. 10, 2020, federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Dompierre with one count of conspiracy and one count of transportation for illegal sexual activity. Dompierre went to trial on those charges in November 2021, but a mistrial was ordered on Nov. 5, 2021, when the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
In his plea agreement, Dompierre admitted that he perjured himself during the trial, on Nov. 3 and 4, 2021, as he testified in his own defense. Dompierre falsely testified that he could not be guilty because he suffers from a condition that renders him incapable of sexual activity. He also falsely testified that he had not taken his medication for that condition for years prior to the alleged crimes. Dompierre admitted that, while he does have a condition, it does not render him incapable of sexual activity and that his condition had not gone unmedicated. Dompierre acknowledged that he knew his testimony was false and that it was material to the criminal trial because it formed the substantial basis for his defense.
The maximum statutory penalty for perjury is up to five years in prison.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Letitia Carroll Simms is prosecuting the case.
Navajo man charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Monty Montoya, 42, of Cuba, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared in federal court today for an initial appearance, facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Montoya will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for March 31.
According to a criminal complaint, on March 15, Montoya allegedly assaulted a victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe, at his residence on the Navajo Nation. Montoya allegedly repeatedly struck the victim about the head and face with his fists and with a .45 caliber pistol. When the victim broke free of Montoya, he allegedly pointed the pistol at her and shot her through the arm, breaking a bone. The victim later was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital for medical treatment.
When law enforcement arrived, they found Montoya at his mother’s residence nearby. They later recovered a pistol from the property.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of all charges, Montoya faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Pfizenmayer is prosecuting the case.
Member of the Laguna Pueblo sentenced to three years in federal prison for assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Joshua Mendez, 40, of New Laguna, New Mexico, and enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo, was sentenced in federal court on March 24 to three years and eight months for assault resulting in serious bodily harm and domestic assault by a habitual offender in Indian Country.
Mendez pleaded guilty to these offenses on July 22, 2021. According to the plea agreement, on March 20, 2020, Mendez assaulted Jane Doe and John Doe in Cibola County, New Mexico, on the Laguna Pueblo. During the assault at Jane Doe’s residence, Mendez pushed Jane Doe, his girlfriend at time, and stabbed John Doe several times with a knife. Due to the injuries from Mendez’s assault, John Doe was taken to a hospital for medical treatment.
Upon his release from prison, Mendez will be subject to three years of supervised release.
Mendez was previously convicted for assault of an intimate partner and battery on Feb. 6, 2017, and again on Oct. 17, 2017.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa C. Dimas prosecuted the case.
Jicarilla woman appears in court for voluntary manslaughter chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Laurice Montoya, 37, appeared in federal court on March 28 for a preliminary and detention hearing facing a charge of voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country. Montoya will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to a criminal complaint, on Jan. 19, at Montoya’s home on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, Montoya allegedly began arguing with a man, identified in court records as John Doe, who had been staying with her since December 2021. Montoya was walking behind John Doe when she allegedly pushed him over a couch. Montoya helped John Doe to his feet, but then allegedly hit him twice across the back of his head with a snow shovel.
About four hours later, a friend showed up at the residence and called 911. Emergency Medical Services of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe transported John Doe to the San Juan Regional Medical Center where he later died. Doctors found that John Doe had sustained traumatic brain injury, a rib fracture, severe bruising on his upper body and two cuts on his scalp.
Montoya and John Doe are both enrolled members of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Montoya faces up to 15 years in prison.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Aliberti is prosecuting the case.
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Albuquerque man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Michael Anthony Hernandez, 46, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on March 23 to 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and maintaining a drug-involved premises.
Hernandez plead guilty to these offenses on Oct.21, 2021. According to the plea agreement, on Dec. 1, 2020, law enforcement executed search warrants on two of Hernandez’s properties in Bernalillo County, New Mexico and discovered narcotics and other items consistent with packaging narcotics. Specifically, law enforcement discovered more than 12.75 kilograms of methamphetamine, an electric money counter, several scales and bulk currency.
The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Community Action Team investigated this case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program’s operation Atonement. OCDETF is a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo, Randy M. Castellano and Ry Ellison prosecuted this case.
Las Cruces psychiatrist pleads guilty to unlawfully prescribing opioidsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Mark Beale, 75, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, pleaded guilty on March 25 in federal court to unlawful dispensing and distributing of a schedule II controlled substance. Beale will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing.
A federal grand jury indicted Beale on June 23, 2021. According to the plea agreement and other court records, Beale issued prescriptions outside the course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. From July 8, 2016, through April 5, 2019, Beale, a licensed physician, treated patients, including Jane Doe, in psychiatry. Beale admitted that he conducted only cursory exams, rather than complete medical, physical, or psychiatric evaluations, and made no attempt to document Jane Doe’s medical history. Beale failed to document many of the prescriptions he prescribed in Jane Doe’s clinical record, which included insufficient clinical evidence to support the diagnoses he made, and the prescriptions he wrote for her were not supported by the listed diagnoses.
Beale also acknowledged that he failed to conduct adequate clinical monitoring, such as urine drug screening and prescription monitoring inquires. Despite a diagnosis of opioid abuse Beale did not treat the issue or refer Jane Doe for appropriate care. Instead, he continued to prescribe opioids. Beale further acknowledged that he chronically prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines, which put Jane Doe at unacceptable risk of addiction, diversion or overdose.
By the terms of the plea agreement, Beale faces five years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad investigated the case with assistance from the Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Task Force, the Las Cruces Police Department and the El Paso Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Joni Autrey Stahl and Richard C. Williams are prosecuting the case.
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Albuquerque man appears in court following arrest for a string of bank robberiesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jason Smeltzer, 40, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court on March 25 for a preliminary and detention hearing where he was charged with robbing four local banks. Smeltzer will be conditionally released to La Pasada Halfway House pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to a criminal complaint, from Jan. 20 to Feb. 23, Smeltzer allegedly robbed four Albuquerque banks, one of which was robbed twice for a total of five robberies. Each time, Smeltzer allegedly entered the bank and presented a similar demand note to a teller. Once the tellers complied, Smeltzer allegedly fled on foot. Following the fourth robbery, the teller allegedly observed Smeltzer entering a vehicle parked nearby.
On Jan. 21, the FBI received a tip through the National Threat Operation Center identifying Smeltzer as a possible suspect. On Feb. 23, robbery detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department initiated a traffic stop of Smeltzer’s vehicle and FBI agents responded to the scene. Smeltzer was taken into custody.
“Bank robbery is one of several crimes that will place you in the path of our federal task force officers and eventually in federal court,” said Fred J. Federici, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. “We are all affected by these crimes, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is prepared to aggressively prosecute.”
“The FBI has been catching bank robbers for almost a century, and we bring that extensive experience to bear on every one of these crimes we investigate,” said Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “Be assured that if you rob a bank in New Mexico, the FBI, U.S. Attorney's Office, and our law enforcement partners will spare no resource in bringing you to justice. We want to thank the public for their help, which should make anyone think twice before committing this type of crime.”
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Smeltzer faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI Albuquerque Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Presiliano Torrez is prosecuting the case.
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Mexican national pleads guilty to federal carjackingRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Gael Rodriguez, 20, of Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on March 23 to an information charging him with carjacking. Rodriguez will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
Gael was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 12, 2021. According to the indictment and other court records, on Jan. 16, Rodriguez approached an elderly victim in northwest Albuquerque outside her apartment complex and asked her for a cigarette. The victim responded that she had no cigarettes and Rodriguez then demanded her purse and the keys for her vehicle. When the victim resisted, Rodriguez slashed her hand with a knife, causing her to drop the keys. Rodriguez grabbed the keys and fled in the victim’s vehicle.
An Albuquerque Police Officer was dispatched to the scene and relayed a description of the vehicle and Rodriguez to the Rio Rancho and Corrales police departments. Police were able to locate the vehicle in Corrales. After a pursuit on foot, police subdued and arrested Rodriguez.
Rodriguez faces up to 15 years in prison.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the Corrales Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
Four defendants in insurance company robbery face federal chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Four New Mexico defendants are facing federal charges, accused of robbing an insurance company in Gallup, New Mexico.
According to court records, on Dec. 4, 2021, Amber Yazzie, 27, of Gamerco, New Mexico, Gregory Yazzie, 26, of Gallup, Randy Joe, 43, of Vanderwagen, New Mexico, and Chadyne Tohe allegedly robbed C&R Insurance in Gallup. As Amber Yazzie, Gregory Yazzie and Tohe entered the office, Amber Yazzie allegedly fired a round from a handgun into the ceiling, pointed the gun at C&R employees and ordered the employees to put their hands up, and demanded money. After taking the money, the group allegedly fled in a vehicle driven by Joe.
On Dec. 6, 2021, law enforcement responded to a report that Yazzie was traveling to Gallup from a specific location. Officers encountered a car matching the description of the vehicle in which Yazzie allegedly was traveling and began pursuit. The vehicle allegedly was traveling at a high rate of speed, at times over 100 miles per hour and in the wrong lane, and the headlights had been turned off. A firearm allegedly was fired from the vehicle, and officers disengaged from the pursuit to avoid being hit by gunfire. Law enforcement later located the vehicle behind a residence in Vanderwagen.
A federal grand jury indicted the defendants on Feb 24. Amber Yazzie appeared in federal court for a preliminary and detention hearing on Dec. 15, 2021, and will remain detained pending trial. Gregory Yazzie was arraigned on March 9 and will remain in custody pending trial. Joe was arraigned on March 4. The court ordered that Joe should remain detained pending bedspace at La Pasada Halfway House and COVID quarantine requirements. Tohe made an initial appearance in federal court on March 24. Tohe will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 28.
All four defendants are charged with interference with commerce by threat of violence. Amber Yazzie and Gregory Yazzie are charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence. Amber Yazzie is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm and knowingly using a firearm during a crime of violence.
An indictment is only an allegation. Defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison for interference with commerce by threat of violence. Amber and Gregory Yazzie face a minimum of five years and up to life in prison for possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Amber Yazzie faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, the Navajo Nation Police Department, the Gallup Police Department and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
Roswell man faces child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ricky L. Romero, 27, of Roswell, New Mexico, appeared in federal court on March 23 where he is charged with coercion and enticement of a minor and receiving child pornography. A federal grand jury indicted Romero on March 16.
According to the indictment and other court records, from March 4 to March 6, 2019, in Chaves County, New Mexico, Romero allegedly coerced a minor to produce child pornography and received videos and images of child pornography on his iPhone. Romero was a New Mexico State Police officer at the time the offenses were committed.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Romero faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The Roswell Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl is prosecuting the case.
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Navajo man sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for sexual abuse of a minor in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Bryan Bull, 40, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on March 15 in federal court to 14 years in prison for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country.
Bull pleaded guilty on Aug. 30, 2021. According to the plea agreement and other court records, on June 3, 2019, Bull and Jeremiah Elijah Jim, 32, of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, used intimidation and force on then 14-year-old John Doe and sexually abused him. The abuse took place in Shiprock on the Navajo Nation.
Upon his release from prison, Bull will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
Jim pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and was sentenced on Oct. 27, 2021, to 24 years in prison and must register as a sex offender.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department.
Man from El Paso pleads guilty to hostage takingRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Jonathan Gonzalez, 35, of El Paso, Texas, pleaded guilty in federal court on March 18 to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to take a hostage and two counts of hostage taking. Gonzales will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Gonzales on July 21, 2021. According to the plea agreement and other court records, from April 1, 2021, to April 27, 2021, Gonzalez and his accomplices, Ricardo Arce, 41, of Chaparral, New Mexico, and Vicki Sowell, 36, of El Paso, took two victims hostage in Chaparral. The victims were identified in the plea agreement as B.M., a citizen and national of Georgia, and N.N.P.-C., a citizen and national of Honduras.
On April 4, 2021, B.M. entered the United States from Juarez, Mexico, into El Paso to meet with people who were part of an alien smuggling organization and paid them to transport him to New York where his family lives. They transported B.M. to Arce’s residence where Gonzalez held him hostage and threatened to injure and kill the him if they did not receive money for his release. On April 13, 2021, N.N.P.-C. entered the United States from Juarez and was also taken to Arce’s residence and held hostage by Gonzalez.
On April 25, 2021, B.M.’s family contacted law enforcement in Georgia. Georgian authorities then contacted the FBI, who helped recover the victim at a barbershop in the El Paso area on April 27, 2021. On the same day, law enforcement also secured the recovery of N.N.P.-C. at a pizza restaurant in El Paso.
Arce and Sowell pleaded guilty in September 2021 to one count of conspiracy to take a hostage and two counts of hostage taking. They remain in custody pending sentencing.
Gonzalez faces up to 15 years in prison.
The FBI El Paso Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Las Cruces Resident Agency, El Paso Police Department, Las Cruces Police Department, Otero County Sheriff's Office, Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector and Border Patrol El Paso Sector Special Operations Detachment BORTAC. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Ramirez and Rachel Feuerhammer are prosecuting the case.
Santa Fe man appears in court for bank robbery chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Bobby Garcia, 29, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, appeared in federal court on March 22 for a preliminary and detention hearing, facing charges of bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Garcia will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to a criminal complaint, on March 16, Garcia allegedly entered a Wells Fargo Bank on St. Michael’s Drive in Santa Fe and robbed it using a firearm. Garcia then allegedly fled the bank in a black Kia.
Shortly afterward, Santa Fe Police officers spotted a car matching the description of Garcia’s vehicle on St. Francis Road and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit ensued. Officers from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police joined the pursuit, which eventually ended at the intersection of Old Las Vegas Highway and Storrie Lane in Santa Fe, and Garcia was arrested.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Garcia faces a minimum of seven years and up to life in prison.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Fe Police Department, the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Letitia Carroll Simms is prosecuting the case.
Mexican national pleads guilty to illegal firearms possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Elizabeth Talamantes, 39, pleaded guilty on March 16 in federal court to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Talamantes will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Talamantes on Aug. 25, 2020. According to the plea agreement and other court records, Talamantes, a citizen of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States on Sept. 18, 2017. She was found present in Albuquerque on July 28, 2020, and admitted that she knowingly reentered the United States illegally.
On Aug. 4, 2020, while executing a search warrant on Talamantes’ residence, law enforcement found Suboxone strips, 1.2 grams of methamphetamine, two Glock handguns, a bag of ammunition, and 89 Clonazepam pills (50 grams). Talamantes admitted to possessing the narcotics with intent to distribute and that she possessed the firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
During the search of the residence, law enforcement also found 11 large glass jars and one large plastic bag of marijuana with a gross weight of 8,015.1 grams. Talamantes’ son, Ricardo Barron, 24, of Albuquerque, who lived at the residence with his mother, pleaded guilty on Feb 17 to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Barron is scheduled to be sentenced on May 25. He faces up to five years in prison.
Talamantes faces a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, and has consented to removal from the United States upon completion of her sentence.
The Albuquerque Field Office of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Letitia Carroll Simms is prosecuting the case.
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Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual abuse at Kirtland Air Force BaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Zechariah Freemen, 45, was sentenced in federal court today to 10 years and one month for sexual abuse. A federal jury convicted Freeman on July 30, 2021.
A federal grand jury indicted Freemen on Jan. 9, 2020. According to the indictment and other court records, on the evening of June 15, 2019, Freeman, a civilian, attended a gathering at a house on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, where the victim was also present. In the early morning hours of June 16, 2019, Freeman sexually abused the victim while she was physically incapable of declining or communicating her unwillingness to participate.
Upon his release from prison, Freeman will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Letitia Carroll Simms and Sarah J. Mease prosecuted the case.
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Navajo man sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for sexual abuse of a minor in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Bryan Bull, 40, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on March 15 in federal court to 14 years in prison for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country.
Bull pleaded guilty on Aug. 30, 2021. According to the plea agreement and other court records, on June 3, 2019, Bull and Jeremiah Elijah Jim, 32, of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, used intimidation and force on then 14-year-old John Doe and sexually abused him. The abuse took place in Shiprock on the Navajo Nation.
Upon his release from prison, Bull will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
Jim pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and was sentenced on Oct. 27, 2021, to 24 years in prison and must register as a sex offender.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department.
Man from Los Lunas pleads guilty to federal gun chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Diego Fernandez, 23, of Los Lunas, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on March 7 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Fernandez was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 12, 2021. According to the plea agreement and other court records, on April 7, 2021, as law enforcement attempted to execute a traffic stop, Fernandez attempted to flee, driving recklessly and towards oncoming traffic in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Shortly after, law enforcement located Fernandez with the assistance of air support and apprehended him as he tried to escape on foot.
At the time of the arrest, Fernandez possessed a loaded firearm. As a convicted felon, Fernandez could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Fernandez faces up to 10 years in prison.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Violent Crime and Gang Task Force (VCGTF) investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is prosecuting the case.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for sex trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Devin Perkins, 26, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Feb. 23 to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. Perkins pleaded guilty on May 9, 2019.
Perkins and his co-conspirators, including Jason Jackson, 27, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Keron “Smash Bro” Lucious, 24, of Albuquerque, were charged with various crimes, including conspiracy to recruit minors to engage in commercial sex acts.
In his plea agreement, Perkins admitted that from April 2017 to July 2017, he conspired with Lucious, Jackson and others to recruit, entice, harbor, transport and advertise a minor child for the purpose of prostitution. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Perkins rented hotel rooms, advertised on internet sites and transported the victim for commercial sex acts.
Upon his release from prison, Perkins will be subject to five years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Letitia Carroll Simms is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Federal jury convicts Navajo man of manslaughterRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal jury on March 10 returned a guilty verdict on Brian Tony, 50, of Gallup, New Mexico. The jury found Tony guilty of voluntary manslaughter.
Tony, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arrested on June 3, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with killing a man by stabbing him in the head and neck and hitting him with a hammer. Tony killed the victim on the Navajo Nation in McKinley County, New Mexico, on May 9, 2016. At the time, Tony was on supervised release for a prior conviction on a federal assault charge.
Tony, who was accompanied by his brother and his girlfriend, drove to a residence in Gallup and picked up the victim and the victim’s friend. While at the residence, Tony retrieved a hammer and placed it in his vehicle. Tony drove them to a location called “Superman Canyon,” where Tony and the victim got out of the vehicle and the victim was killed out of sight of the other passengers. An autopsy revealed that the victim had been stabbed repeatedly in the head and neck and had blunt-force trauma wounds on his head.
On Aug. 8, 2017, Tony was charged in a superseding indictment with first-degree murder and two counts of witness tampering. On Sept. 30, 2017, a jury convicted Tony of witness tampering. Following Tony’s arrest in June 2016, while he was detained at the Santa Fe County Detention Center, Tony called friends and relatives imploring them to convince a witness to leave town and to prevent him from testifying. In a number of these recorded calls, Tony can be heard attempting to dissuade his girlfriend from cooperating with law enforcement.
Tony has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has not been scheduled. Tony faces up to 15 years in prison for the voluntary manslaughter conviction.
This case was investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph M. Spindle and Nicholas J. Marshall are prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque man appears in court accused of a series of bank robberiesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Evan Lemmon, 28, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court today for a detention hearing, charged with nine counts of bank robbery. Lemmon will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to a criminal complaint, from Sept. 28, 2021, to March 7, 2022, Lemmon allegedly committed nine bank robberies in Albuquerque following a similar pattern. Each time, Lemmon allegedly entered the banks wearing a cap, face covering, and a glove on his right hand and passed a similar note to a teller. After the tellers complied, Lemmon allegedly fled on foot to a car parked nearby and left the scene.
On March 7, the day of the ninth robbery, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lemmon’s residence. Investigators allegedly recovered cash consistent with the ninth robbery as well as clothing allegedly resembling what was worn in several of the robberies.
“If you rob a bank, expect the FBI and our partners to do everything we can to bring you to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office Raul Bujanda. “Rob a lot of banks, and our determination to find you becomes that much stronger. We worked closely with the Albuquerque Police Department to end this crime spree before someone got hurt. The FBI's time-tested strategy for solving bank robberies still fits like a glove: teams of our special agents and intelligence analysts combing through every lead, working alongside local law enforcement counterparts, focused on the capture and successful prosecution of the offender.”
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Lemmon faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Violent Crime and Gang Task Force and the Albuquerque Police Department’s Investigate Support Unit (ISU) investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.
New Mexico man arraigned for sexual abuse of children in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Christian Quintana, 33, of Dulce, New Mexico, was arraigned in federal court on March 9 on a three-count indictment charging him with abusive sexual contact, aggravated sexual abuse by force or threat, and aggravated sexual abuse of a child. Quintana will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Quintana on Oct. 26, 2021. According to the indictment, between Oct. 1, 2012, and Oct. 30, 2013, Quintana allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a child, identified as Jane Doe 1. Between April 10, 2015, and May 10, 2016, Quintana allegedly engaged in a sexual act with Jane Doe 1, who at the time was less than 12 years old.
Between Oct. 17, 2019, and Oct. 17, 2020, Quintana allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a second victim, a minor identified as Jane Doe 2. He allegedly did so by force.
The abuse charged in the indictment is alleged to have taken place in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, in Indian Country. Both victims are enrolled members of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Quintana faces a minimum of 30 years and up to life in prison.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea N. Van Deventer is prosecuting the case.
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Crownpoint man charged with sexual abuse of a minor in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Wade Dixon, 33, of Crownpoint, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arraigned in federal court today on a charge of sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. Dixon will be released to a halfway house pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Dixon on Feb. 24. According to the indictment, on July 10, 2021, Dixon allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a victim, identified as Jan Doe, who was younger than 16 years. The alleged abuse occurred in McKinley County, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Dixon faces up to 15 years in prison.
The Navajo Nation Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the FBI. Special Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea N. Van Deventer is prosecuting the case.
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Pinedale man arraigned on charge of aggravated sexual abuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sheldon Livingston, 22, of Pinedale, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was arraigned in federal court today on a charge of aggravated sexual abuse.
A federal grand jury indicted Livingston on Feb. 24. According to the indictment and other court records, during December 2020, Livingston allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a child who had not attained the age of 12. The assault allegedly took place in McKinley County, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Livingston faces a minimum of 30 years and up to life in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Special Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea N. Van Deventer is prosecuting the case.
Federal jury convicts two Texas men on federal fraud and false statements chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury sitting in Albuquerque on March 2 returned a verdict finding Nick L. Medeiros, 49, and Bobby D. Greaves, 62, both of San Antonio, Texas, guilty of federal fraud and false statement charges following a seven-day trial.
A federal grand jury indicted Medeiros and Greaves on June 13, 2018, charging the two men with conspiracy, major fraud against the United States, and two counts of false statements. The indictment also included forfeiture provisions. On March 10, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a four-count superseding indictment charging Medeiros and Greaves with unlawfully obtaining more than $3 million in government contracts by falsely and repeatedly representing to the United States that Medeiros, a service-disabled veteran, was operating independently from Greaves, his brother-in-law. The indictment alleged that instead Medeiros relied on Greaves, who is not a veteran, to complete all of Medeiros’ government contract work by providing the labor and equipment. The superseding indictment alleged that two of the government contracts involved in the defendants’ fraudulent scheme involved construction projects at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico, and included a $1.9 million contract to build a “Drop Zone” cybercafé.
The trial began on February 22 and concluded on March 2, when the jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts.
During the trial, the evidence established that Greaves and Medeiros agreed to create a pass-through entity to get access to programs set aside for service-disabled veterans, and that both made material false statements on which government agencies and personnel relied in awarding contracts to Medeiros’ company. Evidence also established that Medeiros altered documents, such as bank signature cards and employee resumes. and submitted the altered versions to the Air Force, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Small Business Administration.
The jury deliberated for three hours before returning its guilty verdicts.
“The fraudulent acquisition of contracts intended for service-disabled veterans is an abuse of the system,” said Fred J. Federici, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. “Such fraud not only profits unscrupulous parties, it necessarily deprives veterans, who have made a permanent sacrifice in service to our nation, of the opportunity to compete for government contracts to once again serve their country. This office will honor its duty in prosecuting these crimes to restore justice to our veterans.”
“Conspiring to gain federal contracts set aside for service-disabled veterans is reprehensible,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Breen of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. “These guilty verdicts send a clear message that anyone who attempts to do so will be held accountable. We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our other law enforcement partners for their efforts in this case.”
“The collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, OSI and the Department of Justice, was significant in this investigation” said Special Agent in Charge Blair Holmstrand of the Office of Special Investigations, Procurement Fraud Detachment 3, San Antonio, Texas. “The guilty verdicts reflect the results of the hard work put forth by all agencies involved.”
The investigation began when a concerned citizen brought the close association between Medeiros and Greaves to the attention of the VA OIG, who requested assistance from AFOSI when the initial investigation revealed questionable conduct on Cannon AFB in New Mexico.
Medeiros and Greaves each face up to 25 years in prison, fines of up to twice the amount of money gained by the fraud, and forfeiture of all proceeds involved in the fraud. The defendants remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul J. Mysliwiec and Jonathon M. Gerson are prosecuting the case.
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Man from Santa Cruz pleads guilty to federal drug traffickingRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Andy Cordova, 32, of Santa Cruz, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Mar. 2 to possession with intent to distribute heroin. Cordova was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 23, 2021.
According to the plea agreement, on July 5, 2020, Cordova was detained by Ohkay Owingeh Casino and Hotel security personnel on suspicion of possessing or distributing drugs on the premises. Cordova was arrested for drug trafficking after law enforcement executed a search warrant for his hotel room and discovered 16.96 grams of heroin.
Cordova faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
Deming man appears in federal court for child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jeffery Dean Biddle, 41, of Deming, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court on March 2 facing charges of production and attempted production of child pornography, receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography, and enticement and attempted enticement. Biddle will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for March 7.
According to a criminal complaint, on Oct. 7, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Biddle’s residence. During that search and subsequent searches of Biddle’s social media accounts, investigators found evidence that Biddle allegedly used several Facebook accounts to gain access or attempt to gain access to minor victims. Biddle also allegedly used his cellphone to communicate with victims. Some of the conversation led to Biddle allegedly requesting naked photos of children.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If convicted, Biddle faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for enticement. Due to a prior conviction in 2004 for criminal sexual contact of a minor, Biddle faces enhanced penalties of a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography and a minimum of 25 years and up to 50 years in prison for production of child pornography.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case with assistance from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Las Cruces District Office, New Mexico State Police, the Deming Police Department, and the District Attorney’s Office for the Sixth Judicial District. Assistant United States Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Matilda McCarthy Villalobos are prosecuting the case.