District of New Mexico
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Man from Sunland Park, New Mexico sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Luis Moreno, 40, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was sentenced on Feb. 18 in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico to 25 years in prison for production of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Moreno previously pleaded guilty to this offense on Nov. 13, 2019. According to public court documents, Moreno admitted using a video camera on his mobile phone to record a 12-year-old child engaged in sexual explicit acts.
Moreno must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after completing his sentence and pay $30,000 in restitution.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Sunland Park Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong prosecuted this 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 tip line at (575) 526-3437.
Former Deputy Sheriff in Colfax County sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for drug trafficking and theft of government propertyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Honorable Judith C. Herrera, Senior United States District Judge, sentenced Vidal Sandoval, 50, of Cimarron, New Mexico, to 87 months in federal prison today for drug trafficking and theft of government property committed while Sandoval was a deputy sheriff in Colfax County, New Mexico.
In announcing the sentence, United States Attorney John C. Anderson said, “The defendant’s offenses represent a profound breach of a sacred public trust. The people of Colfax County entrusted defendant with the authority to enforce the laws and the responsibility to keep the public safe. The defendant turned around and used this authority to foster and facilitate the very type of crime he was sworn to prevent. In a day and age when service as a law enforcement officer is more challenging than ever, we will and we must ensure the integrity of law enforcement by holding accountable those few officers who betray the public trust for their personal gain.”
“When law enforcement officers betray the communities they swore to protect, it overshadows the heroic work the majority of police, deputies, and agents perform on a daily basis,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division. “The FBI, working with partners like the New Mexico State Police and Colfax County Sheriff's Office, will pursue anyone who dishonors the badge and puts the public at risk.”
“I am proud of the role we played in identifying this defendant’s criminal behavior and holding him accountable,” said Tim Johnson, Chief of the New Mexico State Police. “His actions were an egregious violation of public trust. Thorough investigation and continuing cooperation between agencies again yielded just results.”
Sandoval pleaded guilty on July 13, 2016, to one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of theft of government property. Sandoval did not enter into a plea agreement with the prosecution. According to public court records and statements made in court, Sandoval was employed as a deputy sheriff when he committed the charged offenses. He received training in how to properly handle evidence. Sandoval knew he was forbidden to keep money and other property he seized while executing his official duties.
While on duty on Dec. 15, 2014, Sandoval stole money from two motorists whom he believed to be drug traffickers transporting the proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs. After Sandoval found $8,000 in cash in the motorists’ vehicle during a traffic stop, he called a friend, Leon Herrera, and enlisted Herrera to tell the motorists that Herrera was a law enforcement officer. At the conclusion of the traffic stop, Sandoval retained $7,500 for his personal use and did not turn it into the sheriff’s department. He returned $500 to the motorists. Sandoval later learned that the cash belonged to the FBI and that the two motorists whom he suspected of being drug traffickers were actually undercover officers.
On Feb. 28, 2015, Sandoval accepted $10,000 in cash to escort a load of illegal drugs through Colfax County into Colorado. Sandoval traveled to Wagon Mound, New Mexico in his patrol car and while wearing his uniform, where he met a motorist whom he believed to be a drug trafficker. Sandoval accepted $5,000 from the motorist. During their conversation, the motorist displayed a box containing cocaine and Sandoval understood that the motorist was going to Colorado with the intention of selling the cocaine. After instructing the motorist to drive a few car lengths behind him, Sandoval drove through Colfax County and into Colorado, where he again met with the motorist and received another $5,000. Sandoval retained the $10,000 for his personal use instead of turning it into the Colfax County Sheriff’s Department. Sandoval later learned that the $10,000 belonged to the FBI and that the motorist whom he suspected of being a drug trafficker was actually an undercover officer. Sandoval also learned that the box displayed by the undercover officer contained two kilograms of cocaine and three kilograms of “sham” cocaine.
Sandoval must serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. He must also forfeit $19,500 in proceeds from his crimes.
The FBI investigated this case with the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.
Mexican national sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Efrain Espinoza-Pena, 47, a Mexican national, was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque yesterday to 120 months in prison for conspiracy, distribution, and possession with intent to distribute more than 33 pounds of methamphetamine.
Espinoza-Pena pleaded guilty to these offenses on July 3, 2018. According to public court records, he conspired with three other defendants to distribute methamphetamine in New Mexico from Oct. 9, 2016, to Feb. 9, 2017. Espinoza-Pena, and his wife and co-defendant, Cordelia Louisa Espinosa, 47, delivered about one pound of methamphetamine to an undercover federal agent at a casino on Dec. 7, 2016. The conspiracy also involved a sale of 31 pounds of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Feb. 9, 2017.
Another co-defendant, Hector Hugo Magana, 36, of Redwood City, California, pleaded guilty on July 20, 2018, to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He received a sentence of 70 months in prison. Another co-defendant, Edgar Madrid-Rascon, 34, of Chihuahua, Mexico, pleaded guilty on Sept. 13, 2018, to conspiracy and distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He is awaiting sentencing. Cordelia Espinosa previously pleaded guilty on June 14, 2018, to conspiracy and distribution of methamphetamine. She received a sentence of 36 months in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Mysliwiec and David Cowen are prosecuting the case.
Man from Navajo Nation sentenced to 71 months in federal prison for deadly drunk driving crashRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Tavis Washburn, 27, of Sanostee, N.M., was sentenced on Feb. 13 in federal court in Santa Fe, New Mexico to 71 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter and child abuse in Indian Country.
Washburn previously pleaded guilty to these offenses on July 12, 2019. In his plea agreement, Washburn admitted to committing the offenses on the Navajo Nation in San Juan County on Feb. 15, 2018. Washburn was speeding and driving while intoxicated with his brother and two-year-old son in the vehicle, when he crashed into another vehicle. As a result of the crash, Washburn’s brother was killed and Washburn’s son was injured.
The Farmington office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros prosecuted the case.
Man from Navajo Nation sentenced to 33 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injuryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ricky Thomas, 52, of Gallup, N.M., was sentenced on Feb. 13 in federal court in Albuquerque to 33 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country.
Thomas previously pleaded guilty to this offense on July 8, 2019. In his plea agreement, Thomas admitted to committing the assault on the Navajo Nation in McKinley County on September 15, 2018. Thomas pushed the victim off a porch, causing the victim to fall on his head. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered serious spinal cord injuries and is now quadriplegic.
The Gallup office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros prosecuted the case.
Mariah Ferry and Jose Torrez plead guilty to federal charges related to the kidnapping and brutal beating of two victims suspected of stealing drugs and moneyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Mariah Ferry, 21, and Jose Torrez, 47, of Albuquerque pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque today on charges relating to the kidnappings and and brutal assaults of two victims suspected of stealing drugs and money from the home of co-defendant, Chase Smothermon, 32, of Albuquerque. Ferry pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap, resulting in the death of J.S. Torrez pled guilty to conspiracy to kidnap, resulting in the death of J.S. On Jan. 24, Smothermon pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap, resulting in the death of J.S.
A grand jury previously returned a second superseding indictment on April 24, 2018, charging these three defendants with kidnapping, kidnapping resulting in death, and conspiracy to kidnap.
According to the defendants’ plea agreements, Smothermon, Ferry, Torrez, and other co-conspirators took part in a scheme to retaliate against two victims who they believed stole marijuana from Smothermon’s home where he resided with Ferry. On Aug. 8, 2017, Torrez alerted Smothermon that one of the victims, J.S. was present at Torrez’s home. Smothermon went to Torrez’s home to retaliate against J.S. and try to get his drugs and money back. Ferry drove Smothermon to Torrez’s home where Smothermon and co-conspirators brutally beat J.S. with a baseball bat and the butt of a gun.
Smothermon and co-conspirators then put J.S. in the trunk of Ferry’s car and bound J.S.’s hands, ankles, and mouth with tape. Ferry drove Smothermon and J.S. to another co-conspirator’s home where J.S. died shortly thereafter. Ferry and Smothermon then mutilated J.S.’s body in a shed.
Later the same day, Smothermon contacted M.T. under a ruse that Smothermon wanted to buy marijuana from M.T. When M.T. arrived at Smothermon’s home, Smothermon, Ferry and others bound, gagged and assaulted M.T. for hours. After several hours, two other co-conspirators escorted a bound and badly beaten M.T. out of Smothermon’s home and drove him to another location where M.T. was held overnight before M.T. was released.
On Aug. 9, 2017, Ferry drove Smothermon and another co-conspirator to a rural area in New Mexico where they buried J.S.’s body in a shallow grave.
Ferry, Torrez, and Smothermon are in custody awaiting sentencing. They face up to life in prison for each offense. However, under the terms of their plea agreements, should the sentencing court accept their plea agreements, Smothermon will receive a sentence between 40 to 60 years, Ferry will receive a sentence between 30 to 40 years, and Torrez will receive a sentence of 14 years.
The DEA and FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The Narcotics section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for methamphetamine traffickingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Gaspar Leal, 49, of Albuquerque, New Mexico was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Albuquerque to 30 years (360 months) in prison after juries found him guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine at two separate trials.
On July 12, 2016, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Leal and two others with conspiracy to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on June 8, 2016. On Dec. 6, 2017, a jury returned a verdict finding Leal guilty of conspiracy and not guilty of distribution. Two co-defendants pleaded guilty in this case. Candace Tapia, 24, of Albuquerque received a sentence of 18 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine and Bernadette Aurora Tapia, 51, of Albuquerque received a sentence of 21 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
On Dec. 20, 2017, a grand jury returned a separate indictment charging Leal with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine between July 21, 2016, and Aug. 3, 2016, and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on July 25, 2016. On July 23, 2019, a jury found Leal guilty of conspiracy and not guilty of distribution.
The evidence at Leal’s trials proved he conspired with his co-defendants and others to distribute methamphetamine in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The evidence showed investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) used an informant who initiated contact with Leal, who was employed as a barber, by posing as a customer wanting a haircut. The evidence also showed Leal arranged drug deals by phone while in jail.
ATF and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Norman Cairns, Kimberly Brawley, and Samuel A. Hurtado prosecuted the case.
Man from Colorado sentenced to more than 37 years in prison for carjacking resulting in death and other offenses stemming from deadly crime spree near Las Cruces in 2017Read the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Daniel Lowell, 36, of Pueblo, Colorado was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico to more than 37 years (449 months) in prison for carjacking resulting in death and other offenses arising from a deadly crime spree near Las Cruces in 2017.
Lowell previously pleaded guilty on July 11, 2019, to carjacking resulting in death, carjacking, attempted carjacking, high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a stolen firearm, interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of unauthorized accesses devices.
According to public court documents, Lowell took part in the crime spree with Trista Schlaefli, 32, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Lowell approached an immigration checkpoint in a stolen vehicle and could not produce identification. A Border Patrol agent directed Lowell to secondary inspection. However, Lowell sped away with Schlaefli in the stolen vehicle driving more than 100 miles per hour.
After fleeing the checkpoint, one of the tires on the truck blew out. Lowell approached another vehicle with a family inside, including two small children. Lowell threatened the driver at gunpoint and demanded they give him their vehicle. Lowell carjacked the vehicle and took off with Schlaefli.
From there, Lowell stole some spark plugs from a store that he intended to use to break into other cars. However, before Lowell could do that, police tried to pull Lowell and Schlaefli over in the stolen vehicle. Lowell and Schlaefli took off driving recklessly and speeding with police chasing them. During their flight, they crashed into a motorcyclist, who died from the impact of the collision.
Lowell and Schlaefli continued to attempt to evade law enforcement. Lowell tried to carjack another vehicle, but the driver resisted. Eventually, a team of law enforcement officers stopped Lowell and Schlaefli and arrested them. Lowell had a stolen firearm and at least fifteen stolen credit cards with him at the time of his arrest.
Schlaefli previously pleaded guilty on Nov.13, 2018, to carjacking resulting in death, high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint, carjacking, attempted carjacking, aiding and abetting brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of unauthorized access devices. She is in custody awaiting sentencing at a future date.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Border Patrol, the New Mexico State Police Department, the Las Cruces Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the Pikes Peak Community College Campus Police, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the Pueblo Police Department, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, the Fountain Police Department, and the Colorado State Patrol investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Aaron Jordan are prosecuting the case.
Man from Albuquerque faces federal drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M – Manuel Bolivar, 21, of Albuquerque, New Mexico appeared in federal court in Albuquerque today for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint charging him possession of a machine gun, possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The FBI Violent Crime Task Force arrested Bolivar at his home in Albuquerque on Feb. 6 while executing a search at the residence with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. According to the criminal complaint, Bolivar allegedly possessed more than three pounds of methamphetamine, more than eight pounds of marijuana, 96 fentanyl pills, and 155 packaged strips of suboxone, an opioid medication intended to treat drug addiction. The criminal complaint also alleged Bolivar possessed five handguns, including two stolen pistols, more than $15,000 in cash, a bulletproof vest, and magazines and cartridges of ammunition.
According to the criminal complaint, the FBI also allegedly seized more ammunition and firearms from Bolivar’s home, including a Glock pistol full-auto selector switch, which would allow a user to fire several shots automatically with a single function of the trigger without manually reloading.
Bolivar is in custody pending preliminary and detention hearings scheduled for tomorrow. He faces a minimum of 10 years to life in prison for methamphetamine possession, up to 20 years in prison for fentanyl possession, up to 10 years in prison for possession of a machine gun, and a consecutive sentence of a minimum of five years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. A criminal complaint is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Outler are prosecuting the case.
Woman from Zuni Pueblo pleads guilty to assault charge in federal courtRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Kirsten Sandy, 37, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni living in Wisconsin, pleaded guilty on Feb. 5 in federal court in Albuquerque to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country.
According to Sandy’s plea agreement, she committed the offense on Zuni Pueblo in McKinley County, New Mexico on May 1, 2014. Sandy stabbed the victim in the chest causing a laceration to the victim’s heart requiring surgery. The victim would have died if he had not received medical treatment. Sandy is an enrolled member of Zuni Pueblo.
Sandy is out of custody awaiting sentencing on May 14, 2020. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Pueblo of Zuni Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Marshall and Allison Jaros are prosecuting the case.
Member of Isleta Pueblo sentenced to year in federal prison for child endangermentRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Leon Sanchez, 31, of Bosque Farms, New Mexico was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque on Feb. 5 to one year and one day in prison for child endangerment.
Sanchez pleaded guilty to this offense on July 17, 2019. According to Sanchez’s plea agreement, he committed the offense on the Isleta Pueblo in Valencia County, New Mexico on Oct. 6, 2018. Sanchez got out of his vehicle holding a firearm and shot in the general direction of the victim, a child less than 18-years-old. Sanchez’s conduct endangered the child, but did not cause any bodily injury. Sanchez is an enrolled member of Isleta Pueblo.
The Isleta Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick Mendenhall prosecuted the case.
Man from Albuquerque pleads guilty to federal drug and firearm possession chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Raymond Maestas, 43, of Albuquerque, New Mexico pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on Feb. 4 to charges of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute heroin, carrying a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
A grand jury indicted Maestas for these offenses on June 27, 2019. In his plea agreement, Maestas admitted committing these offenses in Bernalillo County on Feb. 14, 2017. He rear-ended another vehicle while driving in Albuquerque. When police came to tow his vehicle, they discovered a backpack on the rear floor board containing a semi-automatic handgun, 98.5 grams of heroin, and 48 grams of Methamphetamine. Maestas was forbidden from possessing any firearms at the time of these offenses because he was previously convicted of trafficking heroin.
Maestas is currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces up to 12 to 16 years in federal prison under the terms of his plea agreement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico State Police, and the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim Tierney and Kimberly A. Brawley are prosecuting the case.
Navajo man pleads guilty to assaulting child in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Kevin Ernest Lewis, 31, of Albuquerque, New Mexico pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on Feb. 6 to one count of assault of a minor resulting in substantial bodily injury.
In Lewis’s plea agreement, he admitted to committing the offense on the Navajo Nation in McKinley County on May 28, 2019. Lewis hit his girlfriend while she was holding their four-month-old daughter. As a result of the attack, Lewis knocked the child to the ground causing the child to suffer a skull fracture and bleeding to the brain.
Lewis is currently in custody pending sentencing. He will receive a sentence of 5 years in prison under the terms of his plea agreement.
The Navajo Nation Tribal Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.
Man from San Felipe Pueblo sentenced to life in federal prison for sexually abusing child in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Senior United States District Judge Judith C. Herrera sentenced Tyrone Coriz, 49, of San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico, in federal court in Albuquerque today to life imprisonment for aggravated sexual abuse of a child in Indian Country.
On May 22, 2019, a federal jury returned a verdict of guilty against Coriz, following a three-day trial, on two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child in Indian Country. According to the evidence presented at his trial, Coriz sexually abused the victim between November 1, 2015, and December 27, 2015. Coriz lived in the same home as the victim and other family members. He committed these offenses at night while other household members were sleeping. Three other victims testified that Coriz also abused them in similar ways.
As a repeat offender of sex offenses against minors, Coriz faced mandatory life imprisonment based on his previous conviction for another federal sex crime in 1992.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Ana Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Marshall and Kyle Nayback prosecuted the case.
Two members of Navajo Nation face federal murder chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Timothy Chischilly, 48, and Stacy Yellowhorse, 48, of Mexican Springs, New Mexico, appeared in federal court in Albuquerque on Feb. 4 for detention hearings on a criminal complaint charging them with murder. A federal magistrate judge ordered them to remain in custody pending trial.
According to the criminal complaint, Chischilly and Yellowhorse allegedly committed the murder within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation, in McKinley County, in late January 2020. The victim was allegedly beaten to death with a sledgehammer. Chischilly and Yellowhorse are members of the Navajo Nation.
The FBI arrested Chischilly and Yellowhorse on February 2. They face up to life in prison if convicted of the charged offense. A criminal complaint is only an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Gallup office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department, the Gallup Police Department, and the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.
Man from Tucson, Arizona sentenced to 18 months in prison for sending letters threatening to kill Albuquerque police officersRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Brian Clayton Charles, 52, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced in federal court today to 18 months (542 days) in prison on five counts of mailing threatening communications to officers from the Albuquerque Police Department.
Charles pleaded guilty to these offenses on September 10, 2019. In his plea agreement, Charles admitted sending threatening letters to five officers using the United States Postal Service. Charles sent three letters on Sept. 26, 2016, and additional letters on Oct. 6, 2016, and Oct. 11, 2016. All of these victims are Albuquerque police officers, according to a previous criminal complaint and other court documents. Charles threatened in the letters to “cause the city residents to exterminate you vile men with their guns, and I will pile your bodies in mass graves in the city cemetery.”
According to the previous criminal complaint, the Environmental Protection Agency Office of the Inspector General started an investigation of Charles on Oct. 13, 2015, after he allegedly made threatening communications to EPA Administrator Regina McCarthy at her residence in Massachusetts. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) initiated an investigation into Charles after he allegedly mailed a letter, postmarked March 24, 2016, to the home address of then Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington D.C., which threatened to harm the Secretary of State.
Charles received 542 days credit on his sentence for time already served. He will not serve any further time in prison.
DSS’s Office of Protective Intelligence Investigations and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General investigated this case jointly with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack E. Burkhead, Paul H. Spiers, and Kimberly A. Brawley prosecuted the case.
Woman from Albuquerque sentenced to 39 months in federal prison for conspiracy, bank fraud, identity theft, and possession of stolen mailRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M – Christina Torrez, 45, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque to 39 months in prison for conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of stolen mail.
Torrez previously pleaded guilty to these offenses on July 19, 2019. According to Torrez’s plea agreement, she participated in a scheme with her husband and co-defendant, Jose Torrez, to steal mail containing credit cards, debit cards, checks, and personal information that could be used to commit more theft. Torrez and her husband accessed bank accounts using stolen identities and withdrew money from the accounts. Torrez and her husband also used stolen credit and debit cards to buy merchandise from various stores totaling more than $10,000. They also cashed checks from multiple banks and credit unions using false identification. During the scheme, Torrez and her husband also obtained United States Postal Service uniforms, badges, and keys to assist them in stealing mail.
Jose Torrez is currently in custody awaiting sentencing.
The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department, the Sandia Tribal Police, and the Laguna Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S Attorneys Kimberly A. Brawley and Nicholas J. Ganjei are prosecuting the case.
Jury in Las Cruces, N.M. convicts man from Roswell, N.M. of federal child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal jury in Las Cruces, New Mexico returned a verdict on January 28 convicting Dain Justin Adams, 38, of Roswell, New Mexico, of child pornography charges including distribution, receipt, and possession of sexually explicit material.
A grand jury previously returned a fourth superseding indictment on Dec. 17, 2019, charging Adams with two counts of distribution and one count each of possession, receipt, and conspiracy to produce visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also charged Adams with one count of traveling across state lines with the intent to commit aggravated sexual abuse. The conduct charged in the indictment covered the period from July 3, 2012, to June 27, 2018. The jury returned a guilty verdict convicting Adams of each count except for traveling across state lines with the intent to commit aggravated sexual abuse.
According to public court records and trial testimony, law enforcement officers identified an internet protocol address at a residence in Roswell that was being used to access child pornography. Officers traced this IP address to Adams’s home. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the location on June 27, 2018, and found child pornography on electronic devices, including computers. The evidence at trial connected Adams to this child pornography.
A co-defendant in the case, Jade Tiffany Laurezo, 35, Maigao Iloilo, Philippines previously pleaded guilty on Oct. 31, 2019, to production of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Laurezo testified at trial about chat messages she exchanged with Adams discussing their plans to acquire children as sex slaves and sexually abuse these children together.
Adams in currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces 15 to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to produce, 10 to 20 years in prison for possession, and five to 20 years in prison for distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Laurezo is also scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.
The Roswell office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the FBI’s Las Cruces office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Chaves County Sheriff’s Department, the Las Cruces Police Department, and the Regional Computer Forensics Lab in Albuquerque. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Dustin C. Segovia of the Las Cruces Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
Man from Las Vegas, Nevada sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for wire fraud targeting military memberRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Richard E. Sipe, 39, of Las Vegas, Nevada was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque on January 23 to three years (36 months) in prison for wire fraud after executing a scheme to steal money from a member of the Army by convincing her to accept worthless checks in exchange for cash.
Sipe previously pleaded guilty to this offense on June 11, 2019. According to public court records, Sipe met the victim at Sky City Casino near Grants, New Mexico. Sipe gave the victim a false name and convinced her he had adequate money in the bank but had reached his limit to withdraw money from his account. Sipe asked the victim to give him cash in exchange for checks written on his bank account. She agreed and gave Sipe cash in exchange for checks totaling $6000 between approximately December 2017 and April 2018. The victim withdrew the cash from an ATM. The victim tried to deposit the checks in her bank account but the bank rejected the checks because Sipe’s account was closed. When the victim confronted Sipe over the phone, he admitted he had been defrauding people for approximately ten years. Sipe said he specifically targeted military members because he believed they usually had quick access to cash.
Sipe’s sentence also included an order to pay restitution to the victim. Sipe must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs and New Mexico State Police investigated the case. U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson prosecuted the case.
Former scientist from Los Alamos National Laboratory pleads guilty in federal court to making false statement about involvement with Chinese government technology programRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Turab Lookman, 67, of Sante Fe, New Mexico, and a former scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque today to a charge of making a false statement to a government investigator about his involvement in the Thousand Talents Program, an initiative by the Chinese government to recruit people with access to and knowledge of foreign technology and intellectual property.
A grand jury previously indicted Lookman on May 22, 2019, on three counts of making false statements to the federal government. In his plea agreement, Lookman admitted to lying to a counterintelligence investigator from Los Alamos National Laboratory on June 6, 2018. The investigator asked Lookman if he had been recruited by or applied for a job with the Thousand Talents Program. Lookman knowingly made a false statement by answering “no” when he knew that he had in fact been recruited by, applied for, and been accepted for participation in the Thousand Talents Program for monetary compensation.
Lookman is currently out of custody awaiting sentencing. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI investigated this case with support from the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Kraehe is prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque Career Criminal Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Heroin Distribution Resulting in Death of Cameron WeissRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. District Judge Judith C. Herrera sentenced Raymond Moya, 36, of Albuquerque, N.M., to life imprisonment in federal court today for his conviction on two heroin trafficking offenses, including a distribution of heroin on Aug. 12, 2011, that resulted in the death of Cameron Weiss, an 18-year-old La Cueva High School student, on Aug. 13, 2011. A federal jury convicted Moya on May 13, 2019, following a six-day trial.
During this morning’s sentencing hearing, Judge Herrera sentenced Moya to 30 years of imprisonment on the heroin distribution not resulting in death charge, with the sentence to run consecutive to a 72-month sentence previously imposed in another federal drug trafficking case in 2014. The Judge also sentenced Moya to life imprisonment on the heroin distribution resulting in the death charge.
“The life sentence imposed in this case is a just result for a career criminal who committed the most serious kind of drug offense, distributing heroin resulting in the death of a victim,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson. “While no punishment can return Cameron Weiss to his family and friends, we hope this sentence provides his loved ones with some measure of healing.”
“This case is a sad reminder that drugs kill, and Raymond Moya’s sentencing sends a strong message that dealers will be held responsible for the death and despair that they cause, “ said DEA Special Agent in Charge Kyle W. Williamson. “DEA remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer by bringing to justice those who deal drugs with a disregard for human life.”
“The U.S. Marshals Service is proud to have been a part of this investigation, particularly in support of the victims,” said U.S. Marshal Sonya K. Chavez. “We are committed to continuing to work diligently for safer communities and justice in our state.”
“We appreciate the persistence of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure justice for the family of Cameron Weiss,” said APD Chief Mike Geier. “Addiction is at the heart of so many problems in our community. We have to target the predators who have no regard for the lives they are ruining.”
During Moya’s trial, numerous witnesses testified about final week of the life of Cameron Weiss, who died of a heroin overdose on the morning of Aug. 13, 2011. The jury learned that Mr. Weiss had been addicted to heroin for two years, after getting hooked on opiate painkillers to treat serious sports injuries sustained as a student athlete at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque.
Mr. Weiss had spent time in rehab, but had relapsed and ended up in jail in Aug. 2011. While in jail, Mr. Weiss learned that Moya was a source of heroin supply who could be contacted through go-betweens. After he was released from jail on Aug. 7, 2011, Mr. Weiss contacted a go-between, who purchased heroin from Moya and delivered it to Mr. Weiss. The following day, Mr. Weiss joined his family in California where they were vacationing; the family returned to Albuquerque on Aug. 11, 2011. The next day, Aug. 12, 2011, Mr. Weiss met with another go-between, who purchased more heroin from Moya, including heroin which Mr. Weiss ingested over the course of the evening and into the night. At the end of the night, a friend dropped Mr. Weiss off at home. Mr. Weiss went into his bedroom and went to sleep; he never woke up. A pathologist determined that Mr. Weiss died as the result of a heroin overdose.
Moya faced a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment on the heroin distribution resulting in death charge based on his status as a career criminal. Moya’s prior criminal history included prior felony drug convictions for possession of a controlled substance, trafficking a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
The Albuquerque office of the DEA investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean J. Sullivan, Paul Mysliwiec, and Nicholas Jon Ganjei prosecuted the case as part of the Department of Justice’s commitment in partnership with other law enforcement to combat the illegal manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine, heroin and prescription opioids and to establish new programs to provide services to victims of the opioid crisis.
Member of Navajo Nation pleads guilty to federal charges of assaulting two victims in Indian Country causing serious bodily injuryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Matthew Ramone, 32, of Thoreau, New Mexico pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque today to two charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
In Ramone’s plea agreement, he admitted to committing the offenses on the Navajo Nation in McKinley County on Oct. 16, 2019. The assault began when Ramone struck one victim in the head with a three-foot metal bar. When the second victim tried to stop the attack, Ramone hit the second victim with the metal bar two or three times. Both victims suffered serious bodily injury. Ramone is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
Ramone is currently in custody pending sentencing. Under the plea agreement, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Gallup office of the FBI investigated this case with the the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.
Enrolled member of Mescalero Apache Tribe pleads guilty to abusive sexual contact in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – David Joe Melendrez, 55, of Mescalero, New Mexico pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to abusive sexual contact with a child in Indian Country as part of a pattern of sexual abuse of children committed over the course of more than 20 years.
In Melendrez’s plea agreement, he admitted to abusive sexual contact with a child in December 2018 at a home within the boundaries of the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Melendrez, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, sexually abused the victim as she was sleeping during the night. He continued to abuse her after she woke up. Melendrez also abused the victim, who is also a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, on other previous occasions over the course of seven years. Melendrez also admitted sexually abusing four other child victims in New Mexico and Arizona dating back to 1995. Three of these other victims are also members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
Melendrez is currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces up to life in prison.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.
Man from Las Vegas, New Mexico pleads guilty to federal charge of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaineRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Anthony Paul Salazar, 23, of Las Vegas, New Mexico pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on Jan. 14 to a charge of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine (cocaine base).
In Salazar’s plea agreement, he admitted committing this offense in San Miguel County on Sept. 19, 2019. Salazar stored 31 bundles of crack cocaine in a film container at his home in Las Vegas. He intended to sell this crack cocaine. The FBI and New Mexico State Police arrested Salazar and seized the drugs during the execution of a federal search warrant at his residence.
Salazar is currently out of custody awaiting sentencing. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI investigated this case with the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Las Cruces Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking and firearm possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Waldo Nahle, 37, of Albuquerque, New Mexico was sentended in federal court in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Jan. 10 to more than 20 years (250 months) in prison on three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Nahle previously pleaded guilty to these offenses on July 22, 2019. According to public court documents, Nahle participated in sales of methamphetamine to an undercover agent on three different occasions in July 2016. Nahle conspired with his supplier and another methamphetamine trafficker in obtaining the drugs provided to the undercover agent in these transactions.
Nahle also sold a pistol to the undercover agent and a confidential informant during the first transaction. Nahle was prohibited from possessing any firearms at the time of this offense based on prior felony convictions for armed robbery with a deadly weapon, battery of a peace officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm and shooting from a motor vehicle.
Following Nahle’s arrest for these offenses, he committed an additional offense of assaulting and impeding a federal employee. According to public court records, he assaulted a guard at the Sandoval County Detention Center on May 11, 2017. Nahle held the guard while another inmate kicked and punched the guard. Nahle pleaded guilty to this offense on Aug. 23, 2018. He is awaiting sentencing in this matter.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly A. Brawley and Eva M. Fontanez prosecuted the case.
Man from Zuni Pueblo pleads guilty to assaulting two children in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Stanton Sanchez, 32, of Zuni, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on Jan. 9 to two charges of assault of a minor resulting in serious bodily injury.
In Sanchez’s plea agreement, he admitted to committing the offenses on the Zuni Pueblo in McKinley County on July 22, 2018. Sanchez was intoxicated and driving too fast when he hit two children who were walking down a residential road. Sanchez’s blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit. Both children suffered serious injuries.
Sanchez is currently in custody pending sentencing. He will receive a sentence of 10 years in custody under the terms of his plea agreement.
The Pueblo of Zuni Tribal Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.
Man from Pinehill, New Mexico pleads guilty to assault and firearms charges in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Harrington Alonzo, 34, of Pinehill, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on January 6 to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possessing and discharging the firearm in furtherance of such crime.
A grand jury previously returned an indictment against Alonzo on May 22, 2019.
According to Alonzo’s plea agreement, he committed this crime in Cibola County on April 24, 2019. Alonzo unlawfully assaulted a Navajo Nation police officer by shooting at the officer with a semiautomatic handgun. The officer was responding to a domestic dispute between Alonzo and his girlfriend. Alonzo is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation where this crime occurred. Alonzo is currently in custody pending sentencing.
The Gallup resident office of the FBI and the Ramah Navajo Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson is prosecuting the case.
Man from Santo Domingo Pueblo sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sexual abuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Clarence Garcia, 64, an enrolled member of the Santo Domingo Pueblo, who resides in Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque to 15 years (180 months) in prison for abusive sexual contact.
Garcia pleaded guilty to this offense on Sept. 13, 2019. In his plea agreement, Garcia admitted that he committed the crime on the Santo Domingo Pueblo in Sandoval County on Nov. 10, 2013 by touching the genitalia of a girl under the age of 12 to gratify his own sexual desire.
The FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Spindle prosecuted the case.
Larry Mitchell Hopkins pleads guilty to federal firearm charge in New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Larry Mitchell Hopkins, who is also known as Johnny Horton Jr., 70, of Flora Vista, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
A grand jury indicted Hopkins for this offense on April 24, 2019. In his plea agreement, Hopkins admitted committing this offense in San Juan County by possessing nine pistols, rifles, and shotguns on Nov. 28, 2017. Hopkins also admitted possessing ammunition after being previously convicted of felony offenses in Michigan, Oregon, and South Dakota, including illegal weapon possession and impersonating a peace officer.
Hopkins is currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces up to 10 years in prison for this offense.
The FBI investigated this case. The Sunland Park Police Department assisted in arresting Hopkins. Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Kraehe is prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Three Armed Robberies at Local BusinessesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Lalonzo Simmons, 44, of Albuquerque, NM, pleaded guilty today in federal court to committing three armed robberies with another man in 2018.
Simmons pleaded guilty to three counts of an indictment charging him with interference with commerce by robbery and violence and one count of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Simmons also pleaded guilty to a felony information charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Simmons admitted in his plea agreement that he committed these armed robberies at businesses in Albuquerque over the course of two months. Simmons admitted another man assisted him in these robberies, and that both of them possessed firearms during the crimes.
According to the plea agreement, Simmons and the other man robbed a fast food restaurant on March 19, 2018. During this robbery, Simmons accidentally discharged an assault rifle behind the counter. Later in the robbery, Simmons pressed his rifle to the back of a store employee to force the employee to open a cash register. The other man shot his gun while in a back room of the restaurant with another employee. Both Simmons and the other man fled the store with cash from the register.
In his plea agreement, Simmons admitted that he and the other man also robbed a marijuana dispensary on April 3, 2018. They ordered employees at gunpoint to sit down. The other man grabbed cash from a register. Both men also stole marijuana products from the store before fleeing.
Simmons also admitted that he and the other man also robbed a different marijuana dispensary on May 1, 2018. This time Simmons used a pistol in the offense. Simmons stood guard at the door while the other man fired his gun into the ceiling, threatened employees and customers, and stole money and marijuana products.
Police arrested Simmons at his home a few hours after the third robbery. Simmons had a rifle with an obliterated serial number at his home at the time of his arrest.
Simmons faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of interference with interstate commerce by robbery or violence. He faces from 10 years to life in prison for using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Simmons currently is in custody awaiting sentencing. He previously was convicted of an unrelated charge of armed robbery with a deadly weapon, theft of means of transportation, aggravated battery with great bodily harm, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, and false imprisonment.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case with the Albuquerque Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley prosecuted the case as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s “SAUSA Partnership” with the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, a joint initiative designed to reduce violent crime in Albuquerque.
U.s. Attorney’s Office Collects $1,914,673.40 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2019Read the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico collected $1,914,673.40 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2019. Of this amount, $1,411,492.49 was collected in criminal actions and $503,180.91 was collected in civil actions.
“One of the most powerful tools in the prosecution of drug, financial, and other crime is the ability to divest criminals of their ill-gotten gains and compensate victims for physical injury and monetary losses,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson. “Collection is also effective in civil litigation to recover government money lost to fraud and penalize other misconduct. These impressive criminal and civil collections in 2018 demonstrate the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to providing economic justice to the people of New Mexico.”
As one example of the U.S. Attorney’s collection efforts, in Oct. 2018, the District of New Mexico recovered $184,251.79 from a defendant who filed false tax returns for 10 years. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of New Mexico, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $1,349,432 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2019. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Member of Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang faces federal charges of racketeering and firearm possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jody Rufino Martinez, 40, of Truchas, New Mexico appeared in federal court in Albuquerque yesterday for arraignment on a superseding indictment charging him with racketeering and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
A grand jury returned the superseding indictment charging these offenses on Dec. 11, 2019. A grand jury previously indicted Martinez on Oct. 16, 2019, for the firearm offense only. According to the superseding indictment, Martinez was a member of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico gang from 1998 through June 7, 2019. SNM is a powerful and violent prison gang formed soon after a deadly riot at the Penitentiary of New Mexico in 1980. SNM has allegedly controlled drug distribution and other illegal activities within the New Mexico prison system and engaged in street-level narcotics trafficking.
The superseding indictment accuses Martinez of racketeering conspiracy for conducting affairs of the SNM gang as a criminal enterprise through a pattern of criminal activity. This activity allegedly included beating a corrections officer on Oct. 31, 1999, and shooting a rival and intimidating a witness on Oct. 24, 2018.
Martinez is currently in custody awaiting trial on the superseding indictment. He faces up to 20 years in prison for racketeering and up to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. An indictment is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI investigated this case with the New Mexico Corrections Department and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Las Cruces Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for robbery and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Anthony Romero, 38, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court in Albuquerque on Dec.16 to more than 14 years (171 months) in prison for interference with interstate commerce by robbery and using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Romero pleaded guilty to these offenses on Sept. 3. In his plea agreement, he admitted robbing a pizza restaurant in Albuquerque on May 9, 2017. Romero went to a drive-through window and threatened an employee with a firearm. He fired two shots from a .45 caliber revolver and then entered the restaurant through the window where he forced the employee to empty three cash registers. Romero fled the scene with the money in a leather bag. In Romero’s plea agreement, he also admitted to committing other robberies the same day.
The FBI investigated the case with the Albuquerque Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley prosecuted the case as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s “SAUSA Partnership” with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, a joint initiative designed to reduce violent crime in Albuquerque.
U.s. Attorney John C. Anderson of the District of New Mexico to Announce Stream of Law Enforcement Resources to Address Persistent Violent Crime in AlbuquerqueRead the Press Release
U.S. ATTORNEY JOHN C. ANDERSON OF THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO TO ANNOUNCE STREAM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES TO ADDRESS PERSISTENT VIOLENT CRIME IN ALBUQUERQUE
****** MEDIA ADVISORY ******
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – United States Attorney John C. Anderson will announce Attorney General William P. Barr’s new initiative to reduce violent crime in Albuquerque.
WHO:
John C. Anderson
United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico
Sonya K. Chavez
United States Marshal for the District of New Mexico
James C. Langenberg
Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque Field Office
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Monique Y. Villegas
Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Kyle W. Williamson
Special Agent in Charge of the El Paso Division
Drug Enforcement Administration
Mike Geier
Chief of Police
Albuquerque Police Department
Manuel Gonzales III
Sheriff
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office
WHAT:
The United States Attorney and Department of Justice law enforcement leaders will announce their participation in a new violent crime reduction initiative.
WHEN:
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
12:30 p.m. MST (2:30 P.M. EST)
WHERE:
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico
201 Third Street N.W.
Suite 900
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
OPEN PRESS
NOTE: All media representatives must present government-issued photo I.D. (i.e., driver’s license) as well as valid
media credentials.
Media representatives must arrive by 12:00 p.m. MST. Inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Sullivan at 505-224-1514.
Do not reply to this message. If you have questions, please use the email addresses and telephone numbers for the contacts in the message.
Member of Zuni Pueblo pleads guilty in federal court to strangling and suffocating woman in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ferrigno Yuselew, 37, of Zuni, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque yesterday to a charge of assault of an intimate partner by strangling or suffocating.
In Yuselew’s plea agreement, he admitted to committing the offense on the Zuni Pueblo in McKinley County on December 17, 2015. Yuselew put his hands around his wife’s neck and strangled her until she lost consciousness. The couple’s two children were at home during the assault. Yuselew is an enrolled member of Zuni Pueblo.
Yuselew is currently in custody pending sentencing. He faces up to 21 months in prison under the terms of his plea agreement.
The Pueblo of Zuni Tribal Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.
Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson announce launch of Operation Relentless PursuitRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Attorney General William P. Barr and John C. Anderson, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today the launch of Operation Relentless Pursuit, an initiative aimed at combating violent crime in seven of America’s most violent cities – including Albuquerque - through a stream of federal resources.
At a press conference in Detroit, Attorney General Barr pledged to intensify federal law enforcement resources into Albuquerque, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Memphis, and Milwaukee – seven American cities with violent crime levels several times the national average. Attorney General Barr was joined at the press conference by Acting Director Regina Lombardo of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Director Christopher Wray of the FBI, and Director Donald W. Washington of the U.S. Marshals Service.
United States Attorney John C. Anderson and Albuquerque-based federal and local law enforcement leaders announced their participation in the initiative in a press conference in Albuquerque immediately following the Attorney General’s press conference.
“Americans deserve to live in safety,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “And while nationwide violent crime rates are down, many cities continue to see levels of extraordinary violence. Operation Relentless Pursuit seeks to ensure that no American city is excluded from the peace and security felt by the majority of Americans, while also supporting those who serve and protect in these communities with the resources, training, and equipment they need to stay safe.”
“We sincerely appreciate the commitment of Attorney General Barr and the Department of Justice to addressing violent crime in Albuquerque,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson. “Operation Relentless Pursuit comes at a time when sustained federal support is urgently needed to help all the brave men and women in law enforcement who are daily called upon to respond to acts of violent crime on the streets of Albuquerque. We stand by them, and we will continue to work to strengthen all of our existing partnerships to meet the challenges ahead.”
“The U.S. Marshals Service is proud to work jointly with our law enforcement partners here in New Mexico to bring new resources to our state and enhance our ability focus on high-crime areas,” said Sonya K. Chavez, United States Marshal for the District of New Mexico. “This initiative will also send a strong message to those who choose to repeatedly break the law. We are not going away and we will continue to work together as a community to provide safe streets and a safe environment for New Mexico families.”
“The men and women of the Albuquerque FBI Division are eager and ready to participate in this initiative not only because fighting crime is what we do, but also because we live here and care deeply about the safety of our communities,” said James C. Langenberg, Special Agent in Charge of FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office. “We will use the extra resources that will come through Operation Relentless Pursuit to continue to go after the violent repeat offenders responsible for much of the crime in our neighborhoods.
“Reducing violent crime in our community is a challenge that must be tackled head-on with our long standing partnership with state and local law enforcement professionals,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Monique Villegas of the Phoenix Field Division. “Through the use of innovative crime gun enforcement strategies, combined with the skill sets and capabilities of all four of DOJ’s federal law enforcement agencies allows us to focus on those communities that are victimized by gun violence.”
“The DEA is proud to participate in this important nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle W. Williamson of DEA’s El Paso Division. “By working together with shared determination, law enforcement agencies can leverage their individual tools, resources and expertise to make a positive and lasting impact around the country and in our local communities like Albuquerque.”
Operation Relentless Pursuit will involve increasing the number of federal law enforcement officers to the selected cities, as well as bulking up federal task forces through collaborative efforts with state and local law enforcement partners. The surge in federal agents will be complemented by a financial commitment of up to $71 million in federal grant funding that can be used to hire new officers, pay overtime and benefits, finance federally deputized task force officers, and provide mission-critical equipment and technology.
Man from Las Cruces sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for illegal drug and gun possessionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – David Adrian Enriquez, 35, of Las Cruces, New Mexico was sentenced on December 13 in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico to 188 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Enriquez pleaded guilty to these offenses on July 2. In his plea agreement, he admitted to possessing a .45 caliber pistol illegally in his car when police stopped him for reckless driving on Dec. 25, 2018. Enriquez also possessed methamphetamine, cocaine, and prescription pills illegally at his home when police arrested him there on March 1, 2019. The methamphetamine weighed about 1109 grams. Enriquez intended to distribute it. Enriquez also possessed a small scale, plastic bags, $1050 in cash, and three counterfeit $100 bills. Enriquez also possessed another pistol, rifle, and ammunition at his home. Enriquez was forbidden from possessing these firearms and ammunition because of prior felony convictions.
The FBI investigated this case with the Las Cruces Police Department and the Las Cruces/Doña Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Castellano of the Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Man from Las Cruces sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – John Henry Bevel Jr., 44, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was sentenced on Dec. 12 in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico to 25 years (300 months) in prison on child pornography charges. Bevel was also ordered to pay $25,000.00 in restitution to one of the victims of his crime.
Bevel pleaded guilty to advertising visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
In Bevel’s plea agreement, he admitted using a messaging application on his cell phone between Oct. 17, 2017, and Oct. 18, 2017, to communicate with another person about receiving and exchanging videos and photographs of minors engaged in sexual activity. Bevel also admitted sending child pornography over a messaging application on Sept. 25, 2017. Bevel also admitted possessing child pornography in an online storage account on Sept. 24, 2017. Bevel previously lived in Albuquerque.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with the assistance of the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong of the Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Man from Española pleads guilty to robbing restaurant and gas station on the Santa Clara PuebloRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Michael Duran, 33, of Española, N.M., and a member of the Ohkay Owingeh tribe, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on December 13 to robbing a restaurant and gas station on the Santa Clara Pueblo in October 2017.
Duran pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. According to the information and other public court records, Duran robbed a gas station convenience store in Española on Oct. 1, 2017, by entering the business, pointing a gun at the store clerk, and demanding money from the cash register. He got away with $50 in cash and several boxes of cigarettes.
On Oct. 16, 2017, Duran robbed a restaurant in Española. He approached the walk-up order window and demanded money while pointing a firearm at a restaurant employee. Duran fired his weapon into the business and fled the scene. No one was injured.
Duran is currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces a sentence of 198 months in prison under the terms of his plea agreement.
The Northern Pueblo Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Espanola Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David P. Cowen and Jennifer M. Rozzoni are prosecuting the case.
- Justice Department Awards More Than $333 Million to Fight Opioid Crisis
Saudi Arabian national and UNM engineering student arrested for being an alien in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Hassan Alqahtani, 28, of Saudi Arabia, made an initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque today on a criminal complaint charging him with illegal possession of a firearm by an alien admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa.
According to a criminal complaint, Alqahtani allegedly possessed a .380 caliber firearm at his residence when the FBI searched the property on December 12, 2019. Alqahtani is a citizen of Saudi Arabia. He was lawfully admitted into the United States on a student visa. Alqahtani is currently enrolled at the University of New Mexico School of Engineering.
Alqahtani is currently in custody pending a detention hearing on December 16. He faces up to ten years in prison if convicted of the charged offense. A criminal complaint is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Albuquerque office of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Kraehe is prosecuting the case.
Man from Albuquerque sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison for two armed robberiesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Eric Matthew Reddick, 23, of Albuquerque was sentenced in federal court on December 10 to 217 months in prison for two armed robberies he committed in 2017.
According to public court records, Reddick committed the first armed robbery in Albuquerque on October 3, 2017. Reddick and another man went inside a gas station carrying firearms. They wore masks, gloves, and hats to conceal their identities. Reddick and the other man pointed their guns at a clerk and demanded money. The clerk told them to calm down and assured them he would get the money. However, Reddick shot his pistol at shelves of liquor behind the clerk. The clerk then handed over money from the cash register. Reddick and the other man fled the store.
On October 6, 2017, Reddick went to a convenience store in Albuquerque. He picked up a pack of gum and put in on the counter with a dollar bill. When the clerk opened a cash register, Reddick pulled out a pistol and demanded money. This was the same gun Reddick used in the previous robbery three days earlier. Reddick took money from the clerk and left the store with two witnesses watching him. One of the witnesses took a cell photo picture of Reddick as he ran towards a car. Reddick fired several shots at the witnesses, striking one in the neck and the other in the leg. Reddick fled the scene in a stolen vehicle but police later tracked him down at a restaurant parking lot. Officers stopped the vehicle, arrested Reddick, and seized the gun used in the robberies.
On November 30, 2017, Reddick pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with interference with interstate commerce by robbery and carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. These charges stemmed from the robbery on October 6, 2017. On March 25, 2019, Reddick pleaded guilty to an information charging him with interference with interstate commerce by robbery. This charge stemmed from the robbery on October 3. Reddick received concurrent sentences of 97 months in prison for the two robbery offenses. He received a consecutive sentence of 120 months in prison for the firearm offense for a total sentence of 217 months imprisonment.
The FBI investigated this case with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley prosecuted the case as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s “SAUSA Partnership” with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, a joint initiative designed to reduce violent crime in Albuquerque.
Woman from Santa Fe faces federal charges of illegally cashing more than $100,000 in checks drawn on U.S. TreasuryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Zayra Olivia Alvarado, 36, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, appeared in federal court in Albuquerque on December 6 for an arraignment on an indictment charging her with theft of public money from the United States.
A grand jury returned an indictment against Alvarado on November 20. The indictment charged Alvarado with 100 counts of allegedly cashing checks drawn on the U.S. Department of Treasury each in the amount $1000 or more. Alvarado allegedly committed these offenses between February 17, 2015, and October 26, 2015, causing a loss to the Treasury of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Alvarado is currently out of custody pending trial. She faces up to 10 years in prison for each offense. An indictment is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley is prosecuting the case.
Man from Roswell sentenced to 207 months in prison for firearm and drug offenses after shooting at police following high-speed chase in 2017Read the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jose Manuel Diaz-Montelongo, 32, of Roswell, New Mexico was sentenced yesterday in federal court to 207 months in prison for discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Diaz-Montelongo pleaded guilty to these offenses on February 21, 2018. According to public court documents, Diaz-Montelongo led police officers in Roswell on a high-speed chase on September 24, 2017. Diaz-Montelongo then barricaded himself inside his car for more than two hours before fleeing to a rifle range where he used a berm as cover while shooting at police officers and deputy sheriffs with an assault rifle. Diaz-Montelongo eventually surrendered to law enforcement. Police recovered the assault rifle, two pistols, and about 54.6 grams of methamphetamine from the scene.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, Roswell Police Department, and Chaves County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Former Civilian Employee of the U.S. Air Force Pleads Guilty to Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
A former civilian employee of the United States Air Force (USAF) pleaded guilty today for making false statements in connection with a federal investigation into the employee’s theft of government funds.
Gregory Burris, 48, of Miesau, Germany, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen B. Molzen of the District of New Mexico. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to documents filed with the court and admissions made in connection with Burris’s plea, between approximately 2013 and 2016, Burris was employed by the USAF as a Resource Advisor and was assigned to a multinational electronic warfare training facility (Polygone) near Ramstein Air Base in Germany. In this position, Burris was responsible for, among other duties, generating and transmitting invoices and payment instructions to foreign militaries for their use of Polygone’s facilities.
Between early 2015 and early 2016, Burris generated and transmitted six invoices to foreign militaries for money owed to the U.S. government for expenses related to Polygone-sponsored training exercises. Burris directed these militaries to transmit payment of the invoices to Burris’s personal checking account at a German bank, held jointly with his wife, rather than the authorized Department of Defense (DOD) bank account. As a result of Burris’s instructions, foreign militaries unwittingly deposited approximately $144,953.41 into Burris’s personal bank account.
Federal investigators in Albuquerque, New Mexico, interviewed Burris on Aug. 29, 2018. During the interview, he falsely stated that after receiving the deposits from the foreign militaries in his personal bank account, he wire-transferred the funds from his personal bank account to the authorized DOD bank account by requesting and authorizing each transfer in person at his local bank branch in Germany. In fact, Burris used the entirety of these funds to pay for personal expenses.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General investigated this case. Trial Attorney Erica O’Brien Waymack of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section is prosecuting the case.
Navajo Man Sentenced to 36-Months for Federal Assault ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Harry Jim, Jr., 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Fruitland, N.M., was sentenced on Dec. 3, 2019, in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 36 months of imprisonment for his conviction on an assault resulting in serious bodily injury charge. Jim will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.
Jim was arrested on July 13, 2018, on a criminal complaint charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and remained in custody since his arrest. Jim was indicted on Nov. 28, 2018. According to the indictment, Jim assaulted a man resulting in serious bodily injury on or about July 7, 2018, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, N.M.
Jim pleaded guilty to the indictment on June 13, 2019. In his plea agreement, Jim admitted that he operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and caused a crash on the Navajo Nation. The crash caused a man in another vehicle to suffer a broken femur and finger.
The case was investigated by the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the Farmington office of the FBI, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Spindle.
Former Private Prisoner Transport Officer Sentenced to Prison for Sexually Assaulting an Individual During a TransportRead the Press Release
James Baldinger, 51, a former private prisoner transport officer with the Prisoner Transportation Services of America LLC (PTS), was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to two years in prison for sexually assaulting a female during transport.
According to court documents, Baldinger worked as a transport officer for PTS, a private prisoner extradition company that contracts with government agencies to transport individuals arrested on out-state-warrants to the extraditing jurisdiction. On or about July 11-12, 2017, during a transport from Kentucky to Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Baldinger sexually assaulted a female who was in his custody. Specifically, he touched her while she was restrained and without her consent. As a result of Baldinger’s conduct, the victim suffered pain and injury. Baldinger admitted that he knew what he was doing was wrong and against the law, yet he did so anyway.
“The Department of Justice will hold accountable anyone who uses their law enforcement authority to sexually assault individuals in their custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously prosecute these cases and secure justice for victims of these despicable crimes.”
“Every individual has a fundamental right not be sexually assaulted. By taking advantage of his power over the victim, and sexually abusing her, this defendant committed a grievous violation of the public trust,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson for the District of New Mexico. “Today’s sentence should send a clear message that the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico will work tirelessly to bring to justice those who abuse their authority to perpetrate such appalling crimes.”
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque Division of the FBI and the New Mexico State Police. It was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney Maura White of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Shaheen Torgoley, formerly of the District of New Mexico and Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Brawley, of the District of New Mexico.
Accountant pleads guilty to tax evasion after failing to report more than $600,000 embezzled from non-profit foundation in Alamogordo, New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Marion L. Ledford, 65, of Alamogordo, New Mexico pleaded guilty in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico today to tax evasion for failing to report income embezzled from the non-profit organization where Ledford was a director.
Ledford pleaded guilty to an information charging Ledford with submitting a personal income tax return on April 28, 2016, that substantially underreported Ledford’s taxable income for 2015. According to Ledford’s plea agreement, Ledford was a director for the Robert W. Hamilton Foundation, a non-profit organization providing scholarships to high school graduates in Otero County, New Mexico. Ledford controlled the foundation’s finances without oversight. This allowed Ledford to write $1,785,300 in checks to himself from the foundation’s accounts.
Ledford filed tax returns for 2011 to 2016 that reported some of Ledford’s income but did not report the additional money Ledford embezzled from the foundation by writing the checks. This caused a $629,289 loss in tax revenue for the United States.
Ledford is currently out of custody awaiting sentencing. Ledford faces up to five years in prison. He also agreed to pay $2,414,589 in restitution to the foundation and Internal Revenue Service.
The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard C. Williams is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico Announces Successful Recovery of Acoma Shield for People of Acoma PuebloRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division announced the successful return of an item of cultural patrimony, a ceremonial war shield (“Shield”) sacred to the Pueblo of Acoma. Acoma Pueblo is one of 22 federally recognized Native American tribes in New Mexico.
On July 20, 2016, the United States filed a civil complaint seeking forfeiture of the Acoma Shield from the Eve Auction House (“Eve”) in Paris, France. The complaint alleged that on May 27, 2016, the FBI in Albuquerque, N.M., learned that Eve had scheduled an auction for May 30, 2016 in Paris. Eve identified the Shield as one of the items for auction. The auction house numbered this item as Lot #68, describing it as: “BOUCLIER DE GUERRE PUEBLO PROBABLEMENT ACOMA OU JEMEZ XIX SIÈCLE OU PLUS ANCIEN CUIR.” (Shield of war pueblo probably Acoma or Jemez XIX century or more old leather). The lawsuit marks the first time the United States filed an action to forfeit an item of cultural patrimony from any European auction house.
On July 16, 2019, the United States, the Pueblo of Acoma, and the consignor of the Shield, Jerold Collings, entered into a settlement agreement to facilitate the Shield’s return to its home at the Pueblo of Acoma. In the agreement, the parties stipulated to the delivery of the Shield to the custody of a federal law enforcement agent at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France. Following the delivery of the Shield, an agent will transport the Shield to the evidence room at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Albuquerque. After the Shield arrives in Albuquerque, the United States will move for dismissal of the forfeiture case and release the Shield to the Pueblo of Acoma.
The Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Department of Justice’s Attaché at the Embassy worked diligently with the French officials to ensure that Eve released the Shield to the custody of the United States. On Nov. 12, 2019, Eve surrendered the Shield to a Special Agent of the FBI’s Art Crime Team.
“The pursuit of this case demonstrates the United States’ commitment to protect and preserve sacred Native American items for the benefit of their rightful Native American owners,” said John C. Anderson, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico. “This case also serves to put merchants, traders, and collectors on notice that they have a duty to know the nature and origin of the items in which they deal so that they are not unwittingly trafficking or possessing precious items of Native American cultural patrimony.”
In the course of the FBI’s investigation, tribal leaders showed pictures of the Ceremonial Shield that was being offered for sale by the EVE Auction House to an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Acoma. The tribal member identified the photographs as depicting the exact Shield her grandfather had used in cultural and religious ceremonies for the Pueblo. Her grandfather had held the position of traditional kiva leader and cultural practitioner with the Pueblo. As such, he was the caretaker of this Ceremonial Shield, which was kept in the family home atop the mesa known as Sky City within the exterior boundaries of the Pueblo of Acoma.
The Shield is more than 100 years old and is a sacred item with historical, traditional, cultural and ongoing religious importance to the people of the Pueblo of Acoma. As such, it properly is entrusted solely to the care of the traditional leaders of the Pueblo of Acoma.
In the Eve Auction House catalog for Lot #68, an expert in American Indian artifacts wrote that this “very rare war shield” was either of the Acoma or Jemez Pueblos and estimated to be from the 19th century or older. The description also states that these shields were used by the pueblo people from 1700 to 1850, and “with a few exceptions they were no longer manufactured after that date.”
Under Pueblo of Acoma law, the Shield cannot be destroyed, alienated outside of the Pueblo, appropriated by someone outside of the Pueblo, or conveyed by any individual outside of the Pueblo.
The Department of Justice thanks its French partners for their assistance in this matter.
“The sale of Native American cultural and religious items in Europe and around the world have generated millions of dollars,” said James C. Langenberg, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division. “We will continue to work to prevent these sales and seek repatriation of invaluable cultural items to their Native American homes.”
Federal Officials and Acoma Pueblo Leaders to Hold Press Conference to Make Significant Announcement regarding Item of Cultural PatrimonyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Federal officials and Tribal Leaders of the Pueblo of Acoma will hold a press conference at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, November 18, 2019, at the offices of the Bureau of the Indian Affairs in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to make a significant announcement regarding an important item of cultural patrimony.
WHO: The Honorable John C. Anderson
U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico
The Honorable Brian Vallo
Governor of the Pueblo of Acoma
James C. Langenberg
Special Agent in Charge, FBI Albuquerque Division
James “Jim” James
Deputy Bureau Director-Field Operations, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Member, Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: Monday, November 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. MST
WHERE: Bureau of Indian Affairs – Southwest Regional Office
Conference Room 133 on the First Floor
1001 Indian School Road NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
OPEN PRESS
NOTE: All media representatives must present government-issued photo I.D. (i.e., driver’s license) as well as valid media credentials when they check in with security upon entering the building. Media representatives may begin to arrive at 9:15 a.m. Inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to Sean Sullivan at 505-350-3153 or [email protected].
NOTE ALSO: Due to ongoing construction at the BIA-SWRO, visitors are encouraged to use 12th Street and Indian School to enter the premises.