District of New Mexico
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico gang member sentenced to life in prison for murderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Angel DeLeon, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court to life in prison for murder. A federal jury convicted DeLeon on Sept. 16.
According to court records, DeLeon, along with Joe Lawrence Gallegos, 52, and Edward Troup, 50, killed another inmate, identified as “FC,” in the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility (“SNMCF”) in Doña Ana County, New Mexico on March 26, 2001, by using a cord from a laundry bag to strangle him. Another inmate, identified in court records as “RG,” was also killed by strangulation at SNMCF on that same date. The killings were carried out on the orders of Billy “Wild Bill” Garcia, 66, of Albuquerque, acting in his capacity as a leader of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico (SNM) prison gang.
Garcia, Troup and Gallegos were found guilty on May 25, 2018. Garcia was sentenced to life in prison on June 11, 2019. Troup was sentenced to life in prison on Nov. 6, 2018. Gallegos was sentenced to life in prison on April 21, 2020.
DeLeon, a Mexican national, was arrested on Oct. 4, 2019, after being extradited from Mexico to the United States for trial.
The SNM is an ultra-violent criminal organization whose members, prospects and associates engage in acts of violence and other criminal activities, including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute narcotics. Members have admitted in court that the organization engages in racketeering activity.
The FBI, the New Mexico State Police, the New Mexico Corrections Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing DeLeon’s arrest and extradition from Mexico. Assistant United States Attorneys from the Las Cruces branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico prosecuted the case.
Member of the Pueblo of Laguna sentenced to three years in federal prison for assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Duane Day, 31, of New Laguna, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, was sentenced in federal court today to three years in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily harm in Indian Country. Day pleaded guilty on June 18.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 24, 2020, at his father’s home on the Laguna Pueblo, Day became angry that he could not access the internet. He then assaulted his niece by punching, shoving and strangling her twice. The second time, she lost consciousness after he strangled her for a prolonged period. When the victim regained consciousness, he threatened her with a metal hoe.
The victim was later transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital Emergency Room for treatment.
In 2015, Day pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison followed by three years of supervised released for assault by strangulation and attempted manslaughter. In his plea agreement, Day admitted that on the Laguna Pueblo on May 12, 2014, he assaulted the victim by placing his knee on her neck and placing his hand over her mouth causing her to suffocate. Day acknowledged that he attempted to kill the victim by impeding the victim’s breathing causing her to lose consciousness.
Upon his release from prison, Day will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Violent Crime and Gang Squad of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander F. Flores prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque man appears in court on bank robbery chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Angel Lara, 33, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court on Dec. 14 for a preliminary and detention hearing on a charge of attempted bank robbery. Lara will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to a criminal complaint, on Nov. 30, Lara allegedly entered a Wells Fargo Bank in Albuquerque and presented a demand note to a teller. The note included instructions to alert the media. The teller pressed an alarm button. As Lara was approached by security, Lara allegedly kept his hand in his jacket pocket and claimed to have a firearm. Police later arrived at the bank, negotiated with Lara, and took him into custody.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Lara faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is prosecuting the case.
Enrolled member of the Acoma Pueblo sentenced to five years in federal prison for sexual abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Estevan Antonio, 26, of Acoma, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Acoma Pueblo, was sentenced in federal court on Dec. 9 to five years and three months in prison for sexual abuse in Indian Country.
Antonio pleaded guilty on June 28, 2019. According to the plea agreement, on the night of July 5, 2017, and into the morning of July 6, 2017, Antonio sexually abused the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe. Antonio sexually abused the victim knowing she was incapable of declining to participate. The offense took place on the Acoma Pueblo in Cibola County, New Mexico.
Upon his release from prison, Antonio will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Southern Pueblos of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) investigated this case with assistance from the Acoma Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Spindle prosecuted the case as part of the 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/. Individuals with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse are encouraged to contact the Children’s Advocacy Center tipline at (575) 526-3437.
Albuquerque tax preparer pleads guilty to preparing fraudulent returnsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Solomon Gbara, 47, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on Dec. 13 in federal court to aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent income tax returns. A federal grand jury indicted Gbara on March 12.
According to the indictment and other court records, from February 2015 through May 2020, Gbara, who owned and operated Express Tax SG, assisted in the preparation and presentation of individual income tax returns (IRS Form 1040) that included claims Gbara knew were false. These misrepresentations included claims for dependents and Schedule C businesses to which the taxpayers were not entitled under the provisions of internal revenue laws. Gbara also admitted to showing clients tax returns with certain expected refunds, then filed returns with higher refunds and pocketed the difference.
The fraudulent returns filed by Gbara represented a total loss of over $90,000 in tax revenues. Gbara faces up to three years in prison for each count. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Peña is prosecuting the case.
Man from Belen pleads guilty to federal firearm and carjacking chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Michael DeHerrera, 25, of Belen, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Nov. 24 to being a felon in possession of firearm and carjacking. DeHerrera will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
DeHerrera was indicted 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 a victim still in the car, causing her to jump from the moving vehicle. 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.
By the terms of the plea agreement, DeHerrera faces five years in prison.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick T. Mendenhall is prosecuting the case.
Former employee at Sandia National Laboratories sentenced to 21 months in prison for mail fraud and theftRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Joshua Cordova, 39, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Dec. 9 to a year and nine months in prison for mail fraud and theft of federal funds. Cordova was indicted on Dec. 17, 2019, and pleaded guilty on May 5.
From approximately 2010 to December 2018, Cordova was employed by Sandia Corporation and later National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, which were contracted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to operate Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Cordova’s duties included providing training to military, law enforcement and emergency response personnel in the use of equipment developed at SNL. Beginning in late 2012, Cordova applied for and was issued a purchasing card funded by DOE for the limited purpose of procuring equipment and materials necessary for Cordova to perform his duties at SNL.
In his plea agreement, Cordova admitted that during the period from September 2014 through September 2018 he fraudulently used the government-funded procurement cards that had been entrusted to him to purchase items for the personal use of himself, his family, and his associates. These items included: jewelry; watches, clothing; shoes; golf clubs and golf accessories; exercise equipment; toys; barber equipment, furnishings and supplies; building materials; and home appliances.
To conceal the fraudulent use of his purchasing card, Cordova made misrepresentations and false statements, claiming in his monthly reconciliation reports the purchases were legitimate items. For example, in August 2017, Cordova purchased a diamond ring for $944 from Amazon.com that was shipped to his home. In his monthly report, he represented the purchase as “2 carbon fiber Manfredo 510 tripods.”
As part of his sentence, Cordova must forfeit several items that were recovered by investigators and make restitution to the United States in the sum of $136,107. Upon his release from prison, Cordova will be subject to a term of three years of supervised release.
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy S. Vasquez prosecuted the case.
Las Vegas man found guilty of illegally guiding hunt in Carson National ForestRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal court on Dec. 1 found Carlos Ortiz, 28, of Las Vegas, New Mexico, guilty of illegally guiding a bighorn sheep hunt in the Carson National Forest. On December 8, the court sentenced Ortiz to a year and a half of probation and fined him $7,600.
According to court records, on Aug. 7, 2020, Ortiz, doing business as Reaper Backcountry Outfitters, was guiding a party to hunt bighorn sheep. Though the itinerary for the hunt stated that it was to take place in the Santa Fe National Forest, the GPS coordinates included in the itinerary were located in the Carson National Forest.
Officers from the U.S. Forest Service and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish encountered the party at their campsite in the Carson National Forest. The officers also had encountered two individuals on horseback who told officers they were helping Ortiz pack out a bighorn sheep killed by Ortiz’s client. The officers confirmed that the sheep had been killed in the Carson National Forest.
At the time, Ortiz was not authorized to conduct any commercial activity in the Carson National Forest and was not authorized to guide bighorn sheep hunts in the Santa Fe National Forest. Additionally, he was not authorized to conduct guided hunts with overnight camping in either forest.
“Those at the Forest Service and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish who enforce our laws to protect and sustain our Nation’s forests and wildlife are stewards of our country’s rich and diverse natural heritage, which includes majestic animals like North America’s bighorn sheep,” said U.S. Attorney Fred Federici. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is fully committed to enforcing our land and wildlife laws so that all Americans, including generations of Americans to come, can enjoy our Nation’s natural resources, and not those who attempt to profit by violating the law.”
“I am very pleased to see this conviction and sentence,” said Special Agent in Charge James Alford from the U.S. Forest Service Southwestern Region. “The national forests belong to every citizen and when someone is willfully violating the law it steals opportunities for others to enjoy our public lands. This is especially true in this case since an outfitter guide was breaking the law for commercial gain. I want to thank our U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservations officers, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys for their outstanding work of protecting America’s national forests and natural resources.”
“I want to thank the U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers and Conservation Officers for their hard work on this case in New Mexico’s backcountry,” said Game and Fish Colonel Bobby Griego. “It is important for all New Mexico Outfitters to ensure they not only have completed requirements from the Game and Fish Department, but also our federal and state land management partners.”
The U.S. Forest Service and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis Mattei and Rumaldo Armijo prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque man sentenced to 4 years in prison for weapons and identity violationsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Travis Fanning, 26, of Albuquerque, was sentenced on Dec. 8 in federal court to four years and nine months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to use or transfer five or more identification documents or authentication features. Fanning pleaded guilty on May 20.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on Aug. 22, 2020, Fanning was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Law enforcement found Fanning in possession of a loaded, stolen pistol. Three months later on Nov. 19, 2020, police responded to a report at an apartment complex regarding a man smoking methamphetamine and sleeping in a shared laundry room. Officers found Fanning with a loaded firearm and a folder filled with identification documents, including Social Security cards, driver licenses, bank statements and blank checks.
At the time of these incidents, Fanning had six previous felony convictions in Illinois and New Mexico. As a convicted felon, Fanning could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal prosecuted the case.
Philippine national sentenced to three years in federal prison for possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Rodymar Lelis, 31, of the Philippines, was sentenced in federal court on Dec. 6 to three years in prison for possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and false swearing in immigration matters. Lelis pleaded guilty to these charges on July 8.
According to court records, Lelis moved from the Philippines to the United States following the issuance of a non-immigrant visa. In his visa application, Lelis falsely answered “no” to the question, “Have you ever been arrested or convicted of any offense or crime, even though the subject of a pardon, amnesty, or other similar action?” Lelis was arrested in 2018 in the Philippines, and knew that his answer was false.
After arriving in the United States and while staying at a hotel near the airport in Albuquerque, on Sept. 7, 2019, Lelis logged into the Facebook Messenger application on his cellphone. The application contained previously-uploaded child pornography, which caused Facebook to generate a CyberTipline Report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Upon his release from prison, Lelis will be subject to six years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. However, Lelis has consented to deportation following his release.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory.
Man from Albuquerque pleads guilty to federal firearm chargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Juan Torres Flores, 23, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty in federal court on Nov. 23 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Torres will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 2, Torres entered an Albuquerque laundromat and pointed his gun at a victim while chasing him around the building. Torres fled the scene and was shortly apprehended by law enforcement after absconding from a high-risk traffic stop. During the arrest, law enforcement discovered a loaded firearm.
As a previously convicted felon, Torres cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. By the terms of the plea agreement, Torres faces up to 10 years in prison.
The FBI Violent Crime Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquel Ruiz-Velez is prosecuting the case.
Las Cruces man pleads guilty to cyberstalking and sending threatening messagesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – John Benjamin Thornton, 40, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, pleaded guilty on Dec. 3 to a nine-count superseding indictment charging him with cyberstalking and making threats in interstate commerce. He will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury returned the second superseding indictment on Nov. 10. According to the indictment and other court records, Thornton had been the subject of complaints since November 2020 by several people who had received disturbing or threatening messages from him. On May 18, the FBI received information about threats Thornton sent to four people, including his former wife. The messages were sent from Las Cruces within the District of New Mexico.
Thornton faces up to five years in prison for each count.
The FBI investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Joni Stahl are prosecuting the case
SNM gang member sentenced to life in prison for murder, racketeering and firearm possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Jody Rufino “Mono” Martinez, 42, of Truchas, New Mexico, was sentenced on Dec. 2 to life in prison for murder, participation in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) conspiracy, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition for conduct related to the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico (SNM) prison gang. A federal jury convicted Martinez on March 16.
According to public court records, Martinez has been a member and self-identified “soldier” of the SNM prison gang since 1998. Martinez has committed numerous violent crimes on behalf of the SNM since joining the gang. These crimes included murdering a man on Dec. 5, 2008, in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, for failing to deliver drugs to an SNM gang member. On Oct. 24, 2018, Martinez knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition when he shot a victim at a residence in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, as retaliation for supposedly disrespecting the SNM. As a previously convicted felon at the time, Martinez could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
The FBI, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico Department of Corrections investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program, 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.
Isleta man sentenced to three years in prison for domestic assault in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Anthony Lucero, 36, of Isleta, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta, was sentenced today in federal court to three years and one month in prison for domestic assault by a habitual offender. Lucero pleaded guilty on Feb. 10.
According to the plea agreement, on Nov. 13, 2019, Lucero assaulted his girlfriend. Lucero admitted to punching the victim in the face causing substantial bodily injury. The assault occurred on the Isleta Pueblo.
Prior to the assault, Lucero had been convicted in tribal court on three separate occasions of offenses that would be considered assaults against an intimate partner.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Isleta Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Flores, Raquel Ruiz-Velez and Joseph Spindle prosecuted the case.
Former governor of the Laguna Pueblo sentenced to four years in federal prison for sexual abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Conrad Lucero, 71, of Mesita, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo, was sentenced in federal court on Oct. 28 to four years in prison for sexual abuse in Indian Country. Lucero is a former governor of the Laguna Pueblo.
Lucero pleaded guilty on April 23. According to the plea agreement, on March 20, 2019, Lucero sexually abused Jane Doe while she was staying at his residence in Cibola County, New Mexico, on the Laguna Pueblo. Lucero approached the victim while she slept and engaged in sexual contact without her consent.
After his release from prison, Lucero will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Pueblo Police Department and the Isleta Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fredrick T. Mendenhall and Kyle T. Nayback prosecuted the case.
Federal jury convicts man of robbing Albuquerque supermarketRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Dec. 1 in the trial of Jesse Barela, 35, of Albuquerque. Barela will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
A grand jury indicted Jesse Barela and his brother, Julian Barela, 50, on Sept 10, 2020, charging them with interference with commerce by threats and violence. Julian Barela pleaded guilty on Oct. 6.
According to the indictment and other court records, on November 26, 2019, the two men entered an Alberton’s Supermarket in Albuquerque and filled a shopping cart with hundreds of dollars in goods. They then proceeded to the exit without paying. When a store employee attempted to stop them, Jesse Barela brandished what appeared to be a firearm while Julian Barela struck the employee several times with a baton.
Jesse Barela faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI Violent Crime and Gangs Task Force. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
Taos Pueblo man charged with murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Santiago Martinez, 29, of Taos, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo, appeared for a preliminary hearing in federal court today where he was charged with murder in Indian Country. Martinez will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to a criminal complaint, in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, Santiago and the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe, allegedly had been drinking and began to argue. The complaint alleges that Martinez assaulted Jane Doe and ran over her with her own vehicle.
FBI special agents, with the assistance of the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety and Taos Police Department, arrested Martinez without incident in Taos Pueblo on Nov. 22.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Martinez faces life in prison.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Aliberti is prosecuting the case.
Sunland Park woman sentenced to 12 years in prison for drug trafficking, money launderingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Rosa De Santiago, 48, of Sunland Park, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court today to 12 years in prison for her part in a drug trafficking and international money laundering conspiracy.
De Santiago was one of 22 defendants charged in a 44-count superseding indictment on Aug. 16, 2017, as the result of a 16-month federal investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) targeting a Mexican drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for importing large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico and distributing the drugs in New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky and Illinois. During the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized approximately 30 kilograms of heroin, 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 17 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of marijuana, 24 firearms, $102,000 in currency, and three vehicles.
De Santiago pleaded guilty on July 16, 2018, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, conspiracy to commit international money laundering, and possession of methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute. While one defendant remains a fugitive, Santiago is the last defendant in custody to be sentenced.
Upon her release from prison, De Santiago will be subject to five years of supervised release.
The Las Cruces and Albuquerque offices of the DEA investigated the case with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Border Patrol, New Mexico State Police and Hatch Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Selesia L. Winston and Sarah M. Davenport are prosecuting the cases as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program and the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.
The OCDETF Program 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.
The HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 by the UNM Health Sciences Center and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in response to the national opioid epidemic, which has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico. Opioid addiction has taken a toll on public safety, public health and the economic viability of our communities. Working in partnership with the DEA, the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative, Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC), Albuquerque Public Schools and other community stakeholders, HOPE’s principal goals are to protect our communities from the dangers associated with heroin and opioid painkillers and reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in New Mexico. The HOPE Initiative is comprised of five components: (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning. HOPE’s law enforcement component is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners. Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for armed robbery of medical suppliesRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Joseph Matney, 41, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Nov. 16 to 18 years in prison for armed robbery of a pharmacy, theft of medical products and possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone and Alprazolam.
Matney pleaded guilty on Feb. 4. According to the plea agreement, Matney entered and robbed an Albuquerque pharmacy on Jan. 31, 2018. Matney and a juvenile accomplice held the employees at gunpoint and demanded opioid painkillers, anxiety pills and money from behind the counter. They fled with more than 2,500 pills before law enforcement arrived. On Feb. 12, 2018, law enforcement in Denver, Colorado, arrested Matney after searching his vehicle and finding 1,600 of the stolen prescription pills and a firearm.
Upon his release from prison, Matney will be subject to 5 years of supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Denver Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter J. Eicker prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque man appears in court on carjacking, weapons chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Juan Aguirre, 30, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court on Nov. 17 on charges of carjacking, attempted carjacking and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Aguirre will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Nov. 19.
According to a criminal complaint, on the morning of Oct. 12, detectives with the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) Gang Unit along with APD Gang Suppression Officers allegedly found Aguirre in a stolen pickup truck. At the time, Aguirre allegedly was in possession of a handgun. Aguirre has previous felony convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery, auto burglary, and conspiracy to commit auto burglary. As a previously convicted felon, Aguirre cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
That afternoon while in police custody, Aguirre allegedly became ill and requested to be transported to a hospital by ambulance. Once at the hospital, Aguirre allegedly walked out of the emergency entrance and through the parking lot. He allegedly approached an occupied vehicle parked next to an elementary school, insinuated that he had a gun, and demanded that the driver get out of the vehicle and leave the keys inside. The vehicle owner drove away before Aguirre could enter the vehicle.
Aguirre then allegedly approached another vehicle at a nearby preschool. As the victim got out of the vehicle, Aguirre allegedly demanded the keys. When the victim refused, Aguirre allegedly ripped the keys from the victim’s hand and took the victim’s vehicle.
On Oct. 14, Gang Unit detectives located and arrested Aguirre.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Aguirre faces up to 15 years in prison.
The FBI Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force and APD investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley is prosecuting the case.
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Carlsbad trio facing life in prison following trial for carjacking resulting in deathRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – On Nov. 12 a federal jury in Las Cruces convicted two defendants of carjacking resulting in death following a nearly two-week trial.
On the night of May 27, 2019, Stetson Shane Barnes, 29, of Loving, New Mexico, Donald Alfred Busch, 33, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, and a third person traveled to the victim’s home in Loving with an accomplice, Jehra Lynn Hedgecock, 33, of Carlsbad. The group had conspired to steal a motorcycle from the victim, identified in court records as J.S.
Upon the group arriving at the victim’s residence in Hedgecock’s truck, Hedgecock knocked at the front door in an attempt to lure J.S. outside. Meanwhile, Busch located the motorcycle he wanted to steal under the victim’s carport and began pushing it away. As the victim emerged from his home, Barnes, Busch and Hedgecock all pointed firearms at him. Jurors heard testimony that Busch ordered J.S. back into his home while holding him at gunpoint.
While Busch continued to push the motorcycle off the victim’s property, Hedgecock and Barnes got into Hedgecock’s truck. As they began to drive away, Barnes fired twelve shots from the truck into the residence, the last of which struck and killed J.S. The victim’s father testified that J.S. called him to ask for help, and that he was on the phone with J.S. when he heard gunshots ring out. According to courtroom testimony, J.S. was taking cover in the back room of his home when he was struck by the last bullet fired by Barnes.p
After the shooting, Hedgecock stopped the truck on the side of the road where Barnes helped Busch to load the motorcycle in the back of the truck, and the conspirators fled. Hedgecock’s truck was found burning in a ravine outside Carlsbad the following day and J.S.’s motorcycle was later recovered from Barnes’ property.
Hedgecock pleaded guilty on July 22 to one count of conspiracy, one count of carjacking resulting in death and one count of using, brandishing and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of such crime.
Barnes and Busch were found guilty of conspiracy to commit carjacking, carjacking resulting in death, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Busch was also found guilty of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Barnes, Busch and Hedgecock remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. The maximum statutory penalty for all three defendants is up to life in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from New Mexico State Police and the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison are prosecuting this case.
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Man from Albuquerque sentenced to 24 years in federal prison for multiple armed robberiesRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Lalonzo Simmons, 46, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Nov. 4 to 24 years in prison for interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Simmons pleaded guilty Dec. 26, 2019. According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 19, 2018, Simmons and his accomplice, Shakeam Kinney, 32, entered an Albuquerque business through the back of the store armed with firearms when they encountered two employees. Kinney demanded the phone of one of the employees, and when the employee initially did not give Kinney the phone Kinney discharged his weapon. Shortly after, Kinney and Simmons fled the store after taking money from the register.
On April 3, 2018, Simmons and Kinney robbed an Albuquerque marijuana dispensary at gunpoint and fled the store with stolen money and large amounts of marijuana. On May 1, 2018, Simmons and Kinney, robbed another Albuquerque dispensary at gunpoint. Kinney entered the business and discharged his weapon into the ceiling, demanding money and merchandise and threatening an employee. Kinney and Simmons fled the store with stolen money and marijuana. Soon after, Simmons was arrested by law enforcement at his residence.
On June 15, Kinney was sentenced to 22 years and five months in prison for interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime and being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.
Upon his release from prison, Simmons will be subject to five years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Trembley prosecuted the case.
Jicarilla Apache man sentenced to over 15 years in prison for kidnapping conspiracy in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Andrew Bettelyoun, 26, a member of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, was sentenced today in federal court to 15 years and 8 months in prison for conspiring to commit kidnapping in Indian Country. Bettelyoun pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2019.
In his plea agreement, Bettelyoun admitted to assisting his co-conspirator, Allister Quintana, 26, also of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, by providing binding material and moving the victim from room to room in a house in Dulce, New Mexico, on the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation. The victim died as a result of the injuries he sustained during the kidnapping.
On Jan. 22, 2019, Quintana pleaded guilty to second degree murder in Indian Country. On Sept. 21 he was sentenced to 33 years in prison.
Upon his release from prison, Bettelyoun will be subject to five years of supervised release.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Spindle and Frederick Mendenhall prosecuted the case.
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Albuquerque man sentenced to 30 years in prison for travel to engage in sexual conduct with minor, child exploitation and child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Bentley Streett, 46, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court today to 30 years in prison for child exploitation charges.
On Dec. 7, 2018, Streett pleaded guilty to interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of production of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, three counts of attempted production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
In his plea agreement, Streett admitted that between July 31, 2013, and Aug. 4, 2013, he traveled from Albuquerque to Sycamore, Illinois, for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with a 14-year-old victim. Streett also admitted that from May 2013 through at least January 2014, he attempted to persuade several minors to produce pornography and send the images to him, and that on Jan. 20, 2014, he sent images of child pornography to one of the minors. Streett admitted that he knew the victims with whom he was communicating were minors, and also admitted to saving child pornography on his laptop.
Upon his release from prison, Streett will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (RCFL). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mease 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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Enrolled member of the Navajo Nation pleads guilty to federal assault chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Quincee Zohnnie, 25, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty in federal court on Oct. 26 to assault with a dangerous weapon and retaliating against a victim in Indian Country. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, on June 14, 2020, Zohnnie was riding in the passenger seat of his girlfriend’s car when they spotted John Doe sitting outside his home on the Navajo Nation, New Mexico. Zohnnie had an argument with John Doe before returning home and retrieving his firearm. Zohnnie returned to John Doe’s residence and fired multiple rounds at the house, which at the time of the incident was occupied by John Doe’s family including a minor child.
By the terms of the plea agreement, Zohnnie faces eight years in prison.
The Farmington Residency Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
Taos Pueblo man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of a minorRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Elliot Romancito, 27, of Taos, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo, pleaded guilty in federal court on Nov. 3 to sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. Romancito was indicted on March 10, 2020.
In his plea agreement, Romancito admitted that after a party on the night of Sept. 30, 2018, or in the early morning hours of Oct. 1, 2018, he drove to a location on the Taos Pueblo and engaged in a sexual act with the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe. At the time of the abuse, Jane Doe was 15-years old.
By the terms of the plea agreement, Romancito faces up to two years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Filed Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Cowen and Elisa Dimas are prosecuting this case.
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Albuquerque man in federal court accused of transporting aliens in case resulting in deathRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Elton Gastelum, 20, of Albuquerque, appeared for a detention hearing today in federal court where he is charged with transporting illegal aliens resulting in death. Gastelum will remain in custody pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on Sept. 18, Gastelum allegedly was transporting illegal aliens when he approached a Border Patrol checkpoint on New Mexico State Road 11. Gastelum allegedly attempted to circumvent the checkpoint by driving his vehicle northward in the southbound lane, and then fled from Border Patrol agents at a high rate of speed. Gastelum allegedly lost control of the vehicle, which rolled several times and caught fire. Six people were ejected from the vehicle, while the other four were extracted from the burning SUV. One of the aliens who had been in the vehicle died at the scene while another died later at the hospital.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The maximum statutory penalty for this charge is up to life in prison or death.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher S. McNair and Randy Castellano are prosecuting the case.
Laguna Pueblo man sentenced to 12 year in prison for sexually abusing childrenRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Floyd Emory Cheresposy, 58, of Laguna, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of Laguna Pueblo, was sentenced in federal court on Oct. 29 to 12 years in prison for abusive sexual contact in Indian Country. Cheresposy pleaded guilty on March 25.
In his plea agreement, Cheresposy admitted that between about Oct. 14, 2011, and Oct. 14, 2012, he engaged in sexual contact with Jane Doe 1, and that between about Dec. 8, 2011, and Dec. 8, 2012, he engaged in sexual contact with Jane Doe 2. Both victims were seven years old at the time of the abuse. The crimes occurred in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, on the Laguna Pueblo.
Upon his release from prison, Cheresposy will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Laguna office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Pueblo Police Department.
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Member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe sentenced to two years in federal prison for domestic assaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Drew Beck, 36, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, was sentenced in federal court on Oct. 4 to two years and five months in prison for domestic assault by a habitual offender.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 2, 2020, Beck assaulted Jane Doe, his girlfriend at the time, at their shared residence in Otero County, New Mexico, on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Beck grabbed the victim as she was trying to leave and dragged her by her leg into the living room. Beck threw the victim over the couch and started strangling her and stopped after law enforcement arrived. Jane Doe was taken to a medical center where she received care and a domestic violence examination.
Beck was convicted for similar incidents previously, on Aug. 4, 2011, for battery on a household member and on Nov. 9, 2017, for domestic violence.
Upon his release from prison, Beck will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque man appears in court on robbery chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Thomas Kelly Fadgen, 41, of Albuquerque, made an initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 28 facing charges of bank robbery and interfering with commerce by threats or violence. Fadgen will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Nov. 1.
According to a criminal complaint, on Aug. 31, Fadgen allegedly entered a Walmart on Wyoming Boulevard in Albuquerque and approached the money services counter. He allegedly placed an orange bag on the counter, along with a demand note with which the service counter clerk complied. Fadgen allegedly fled the scene, leaving the demand note behind.
On Oct. 5, Fadgen allegedly entered the First Convenience Bank inside the Walmart on Carlisle Boulevard in Albuquerque. He allegedly presented a demand note to a teller and lifted his shirt to display a handgun in the waistband of his pants. The teller complied and Fadgen allegedly fled the scene.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Fadgen faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the New Mexico Corrections Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano Torrez is prosecuting the case.
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Navajo Nation member sentenced to 24 years in prison for sexual abuse of a child in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jeremiah Elijah Jim, 31, of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced in federal court on Oct. 27 to 24 years in prison for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. Jim pleaded guilty on April 5.
According to his plea and other court documents, on June 3, 2019, Jim and co-defendant Bryan Bull, also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, threatened the 14-year-old victim with serious bodily injury and sexually abused him. The abuse took place in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.
Bull pleaded guilty on Aug. 30 and remains in custody pending sentencing.
Upon his release from prison, Jim will be subject to seven years of supervised release and will have a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.
Albuquerque man pleads guilty to stalking local familyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Stephen Yochim, 48, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty in federal court on Oct. 18 to stalking. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, Yochim allegedly sent a series of messages from multiple Google email (gmail) accounts to an Albuquerque couple. In highly graphic language, the messages, received between Jan. 11 and Jan. 15, threatened physical violence against one of the recipients and expressed morbid joy at the prospect of cancer afflicting the other recipient. Included in the profane terms directed toward the family was the repeated use of an ethnic slur.
Yochim admitted that the messages served no legal or legitimate purpose and were intended to harass and intimidate the victims.
Yochim faces up to five years in prison.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A Hurtado is prosecuting the case.
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Santa Fe woman sentenced to eight months in prison for assault of Nambe Pueblo teenRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Brittany Huizar, 20, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court today to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release for assault resulting in substantial bodily injury. A grand jury indicted Huizar on Nov. 4, 2020, and Huizar pleaded guilty on March 31.
In her plea, Huizar admitted that during the evening of Dec. 31, 2019, she was hanging out with a group of younger boys and girls, including the victim, an enrolled member of Nambe Pueblo who was 13-years old at the time. At about midnight, the group drove to an Española park, located on the Santa Clara Pueblo in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. At the park, a group of the girls, including Huizar, jumped the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe. Huizar admitted to hitting and kicking Jane Doe.
After the first attack, Jane Doe was ordered to get into the trunk before the group proceeded toward Chimayo, where they again assaulted Jane Doe, and Huizar admitted to slamming the victim’s head against the side of the car. Jane Doe again was ordered to get into the trunk and the group drove to La Mesilla, New Mexico, where the victim escaped. Jane Doe was treated by emergency medical personnel for a left knee sprain and numerous contusions, scrapes and bruises to her head, chest and body.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police and the Española Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Nayback prosecuted the case.
Navajo woman sentenced to five years in prison for involuntary manslaughter regarding the death of her childRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Tonya Mae Dale, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced in federal court on Oct. 25 to five years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country. Dale pleaded guilty on March 24.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, Dale committed the offense in San Juan County on or about June 26, 2019, and continuing to June 28, 2019. Dale admitted to driving at night while intoxicated with her children in the vehicle, and her intoxication contributed to her vehicle becoming stuck on June 26. The next day, Dale decided to leave her vehicle and began walking. At some point, she decided to leave her children, a baby and a young child, and seek help on her own. When she returned with assistance to the location she had left her children, only the baby was still there. The other child had wandered away. Despite a multiagency search of the area for the young boy, he was found deceased the following day.
Upon her release from prison, Dale will be subject to two years of supervised release.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall prosecuted the case.
Navajo man sentenced to 15 years in prison for abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Lyle Woody Begay, 35, of Navajo, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on Oct. 25 in federal court to 15 years in prison for abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian Country.
Begay pleaded guilty to the offense on Oct. 9, 2020. In his plea agreement, Begay admitted that for more than a seven-year period he engaged in intentional and unlawful sexual contact with a female minor under the age of twelve with the intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, arouse or gratify sexual desire. Begay committed the crime at the victim’s home in McKinley County, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.
Upon his release from prison, Begay will be subject to ten years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback prosecuted the case.
Former Las Cruces middle school principal sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Joel Aguilar Villanueva, 45, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court to 11 years and three months in prison for transportation of a visual image of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Villanueva pleaded guilty on Nov. 8, 2019.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on Oct. 23, 2018, Villanueva, who was the principal of a middle school in Las Cruces, uploaded a video from an electronic device to Twitter. The video depicted a child engaged in a sexual act with an adult, and was posted with the comment “aprenden rapido,” which translates to English as, “they learn fast.”
Upon his release from prison, Villanueva will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Las Cruces office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, the Las Cruces Police Department and the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong prosecuted 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/.
Edgewood man sentenced to two years in prison for wire and computer fraudRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Charles Bruce Sandidge, 40, of Edgewood, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court on Oct. 22 to two years in prison for wire fraud and fraud in connection with computers. Sandidge pleaded guilty on Sept. 17, 2018.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, from Aug. 14, 2017, through Nov. 15, 2017, Sandidge defrauded a victim through unauthorized access to financial accounts. Through an ad on the Craig’s List website, the victim hired Sandidge to perform video photography and editing. The victim allowed Sandidge access to a personal computer to perform the work. Without permission or authorization, Sandidge accessed the victim’s Paypal account to transfer money to his own account, totaling approximately $135,650 in stolen money and fees.
In addition to his prison sentence, Sandidge must pay $97,298.98 in restitution and, upon his release from prison, will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The FBI investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Brawley prosecuted the case.
Church Rock man pleads guilty to sexually abusing a childRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Manison Largo, 42, of Church Rock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty on Oct.19 in federal court to abusive sexual contact with a child. Largo will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to his plea and other court records, on multiple occasions between August 2017 and March 2018, Largo sexually abused the victim, who is also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. During the course of the abuse, which occurred at Largo’s residence in Church Rock on the Navajo Nation, the victim had not attained the age of 12. The victim was able to borrow a phone and called 911 to report the abuse.
Largo faces up to life in prison and must register as a sex offender.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
Chaparral man sentenced to 19 years in prison for kidnappingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Roberto Carlos Cervantes, 27, of Chaparral, New Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court to 19 years and seven months in prison for kidnapping. Upon his release from prison, Cervantes will be subject to three years of supervised release.
According to the plea agreement and other public court documents, he and four co-defendants abducted the victim from a travel center in Mescalero, New Mexico, on April 4, 2019. Cervantes and Joshua Bowen, 28, of Alto, New Mexico, each had a firearm at the time. Cervantes hit the victim in the face several times. They also tied and bound the victim in an attempted robbery.
Cervantes and his co-defendants took the victim to Chaparral where the co-defendants tried to withdraw money from the victim’s bank account with a debit card. From there, Bowen took the victim to a bank in El Paso, Texas, where Bowen ordered the victim to pretend to be Bowen’s grandfather and change the PIN for the victim’s ATM card. After changing the PIN, Bowen transported the victim back to New Mexico where the co-defendants obtained money from the victim’s bank account.
Cervantes and his co-defendants checked into a hotel in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on April 5, 2019, where they prevented the victim from leaving. Cervantes and co-defendant Alison Comstock, 28, of Carrizozo, New Mexico, left the hotel on April 6,2019, and Bowen and co-defendant Brittany Priddy, 30, of Ruidoso, New Mexico, left on April 7, 2019. On April 8, 2019, the victim managed to call his son and tell him where he was. An officer from the Las Cruces Police Department responded and rescued the victim.
Bowen pleaded guilty on June 25, 2020, and was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison. Priddy pleaded guilty to kidnapping on April 28 and was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison. Derek Welborn, 30, of Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to kidnapping on April 30 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Cervantes and Comstock pleaded guilty to kidnapping on May 19, and Comstock was sentenced to ten years and one month in prison.
The FBI investigated this case with the New Mexico State Police, Ruidoso Downs Police Department, Las Cruces Police Department and Dona Ana Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Matilda McCarthy Villalobos prosecuted the case.
California man pleads guilty to wire fraud and federal Indian Arts violationsRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Robert Haack, 55, of Los Angeles, California, pleaded guilty in federal court on Oct. 19 to violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and wire fraud.
According to the plea agreement, on Apr. 4, 2013, Haack listed and sold a fake piece of Native American jewelry online, claiming it to be made and signed by a famed Hopi Tribe artisan, Charles Loloma, to an undercover law enforcement agent. On June 15, 2014, Haack again listed and sold another fake piece of Native American jewelry online to an undercover law enforcement agent.
Haack is currently out of custody awaiting sentencing. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Law Enforcement investigated this case with assistance from the Indians Arts and Crafts Board. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frederick T. Mendenhall and Nicholas Marshall are prosecuting the case.
Navajo man accused of decapitation in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Shilo Aaron Oldrock, 28, of Fargo, North Dakota, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, made an initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 15 on a charge of murder in Indian Country. Oldrock has waived a preliminary and detention hearing and will remain in custody pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on Oct. 10, Oldrock allegedly murdered John Doe at a residence in McKinley County, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. Oldrock allegedly attacked John Doe with an axe, decapitating him. Oldrock allegedly burned John Doe’s head in a wood stove, then fled the crime scene.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Oldrock faces up to life in prison if convicted of the charged offense.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department, the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gallup Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Cowen is prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque man sentenced to five years in prison for firing rifle from apartment windowRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Roy Thundercloud, 40, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court today to five years and 10 months in prison. Thundercloud pleaded guilty on March 26 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on May 31, 2020, Thundercloud fired a rifle several times from a window of his apartment near Albuquerque High School. Thundercloud also tried to dispose of the spent rifle casings by throwing them in the apartment complex’s dumpster. Thundercloud eventually surrendered after police responded to the scene.
Thundercloud was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, burglary and aggravated driving while intoxicated. As a previously convicted felon, Thundercloud cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Upon his release from prison, Thundercloud 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 with assistance from the Multi-Agency Task Force. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico prosecuted the case.
Pediatric surgeon pleads guilty to possession, distribution of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Guy Rosenschein, 68, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty in federal court on Oct. 15 to seven counts of distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Rosenschein will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on several occasions in 2016, Rosenschein, who at the time was a pediatric surgeon at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, used a Yahoo! email account to distribute child pornography. On Nov. 8, 2016, during the execution of a search warrant, investigators found Rosenschein in possession of numerous devices containing child pornography. Investigators identified over 19,000 images and 2,000 videos of child pornography in Rosenschein’s possession, of which law enforcement confirmed that 3,000 images and 197 videos depicted previously-identified minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Rosenschein faces over 17 years in prison followed by a minimum term of five years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender. Additionally, Rosenschein has agreed to pay $125,000 in restitution, which will be distributed to requesting victims depicted on the material recovered on his seized devices.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with assistance from the Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah J. Mease, Holland S. Kastrin and Stephen A. White are 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/.
Hanover man accused of making pipe bombs, violating protective orderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Thomas Joseph Miller, 34, of Hanover, New Mexico, appeared in federal court on Oct. 15 for a detention hearing, charged with illegally possessing destructive devices and ammunition. Miller will remain in custody pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on Sept. 28, Miller allegedly was found in possession of several “pipe bombs,” considered destructive devices, and various rounds of ammunition in multiple calibers. At the time, Miller was subject to an order of protection and could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition. Miller did not possess a license to manufacture explosives or destructive devices.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Miller faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Grant County Sheriff’s Department and the Doña Ana County Bomb Squad. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ry Ellison and Maria Armijo are prosecuting the case.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to seven years in federal prison for armed robberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Samuel Perez, 34, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Sept. 22 to seven years in prison for using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Perez pleaded guilty on Jan. 8.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on June 28, 2018, Perez robbed a gas station convenience store. He entered the store with an accomplice, brandished a gun and demanded money and merchandise from an employee.
Upon completion of his sentence, Perez will be subject to three years of supervised release.
Co-defendant Jared Barnhill pleaded guilty on March 23, 2020, to interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, and was sentenced on Jan. 6 to 18 years in prison. Another co-defendant, Jeyden Barnhill, pleaded guilty on Oct. 24, 2019, to interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, and was sentenced on Feb 5, 2020, to three years and 10 months in prison.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Outler prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for homemade bombRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Ryan Cook, 45, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Sep. 28 to one year and six months in prison for possession of an unregistered firearm. Cook pleaded guilty on Oct. 28, 2020.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on June 24, 2020, law enforcement received a call from Cook’s roommate about an explosive device in Cook’s possession at their shared residence in Los Lunas, New Mexico. After a standoff with the local SWAT team, Cook surrendered and was arrested. Law enforcement located and secured the destructive device.
Upon his release from prison, Cook will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Hurtado prosecuted the case
Navajo man in federal court for murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Quinten Smith, 21, of Mexican Springs, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was charged in federal court on Oct. 4 with murder in Indian Country. Smith will remain in custody pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on Sept. 24, Smith and others allegedly went to the home of the victim, identified as John Doe, to confront him. When they arrived at the home, a physical altercation allegedly ensued. During the fight, Smith allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times in the back with a pocketknife. Smith and the others allegedly fled the home immediately.
John Doe, who was also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was found deceased in his home later that day. The killing occurred on the Navajo Nation.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Smith faces life in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Navajo Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to three years in prison for federal firearm violationRead the Press Release
ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Elijio Saenz, 27, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Sept. 22 to three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Saenz pleaded guilty on Apr. 13.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on Nov. 19, 2019, law enforcement responded to a shooting at Saenz’s residence in Bernalillo, County, New Mexico. Law enforcement learned that Saenz had shot his own leg but was unaware of the injury at the time due to his legs being paralyzed. Law enforcement located the loaded firearm and arrested Saenz for an outstanding warrant by the New Mexico Corrections Department Division of Probation and Parole for absconding.
At the time of the incident, Saenz had two previous felony convictions for child abuse. As a previously convicted felon, Saenz cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Upon completion of his sentence, Saenz will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Walsh and Nicholas Mote prosecuted the case
Tsayatoh man charged with federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Rumaldo Peshlakai, 40, of Tsayatoh, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared in federal court today for a preliminary hearing on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Peshlakai will remain in custody pending trial.
According to a criminal complaint, on Sept. 23, Peshlakai and Jane Doe allegedly were involved in a domestic dispute at a residence in Tsayatoh. Peshlakai allegedly left the residence with their four children. At the time of the incident, Peshlakai allegedly was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The children, who were unharmed, were recovered by law enforcement. Peshlakai was arrested on Sept. 24.
Peshlakai was convicted in 2001 of assault by striking, beating or wounding and assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and in 2006 for being a felon in possession of ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Peshlakai cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Peshlakai faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Navajo Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Phoenix Field Office, New Mexico State Police, Navajo Police Department, McKinley County Sheriff's Office and Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Aliberti is prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque woman found guilty in bank robbery trialRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Sept. 29 against Rhonda Quintana, 39, of Albuquerque, on one count of aiding and abetting and bank robbery. Quintana will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to a federal indictment and other court records, on March 13, 2018, Quintana drove James Verdream to the Rio Grande Credit Union on 4th Street NW in Albuquerque. Verdream entered the credit union and passed a demand note to a teller. Verdream took money from the teller, returned to the car, and fled with Quintana.
Verdream pleaded guilty on Dec. 27, 2018, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Quintana faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the United Stated Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Mysliwiec and Jaymie Roybal are prosecuting the case.